Growth as a monitor of nutritional status

Abstract

1. Methods of monitoring growth of individuals in a population, and average growth in height and other measurements of populations or subpopulations must be distinguished. 2. Individual monitoring of nutritional status should be by growth velocity charts, for height, chiefly, and weight, if interpreted correctly. Growth velocity may be reduced by psychological stress; it monitors a total micro-ecological situation, not just a nutritional one. 3. Population monitoring requires defined and repeated samples. The secular trend and the differences in height for age and in age at menarche related to occupational class and number of siblings reflect nutritional differences, but only as part of the same micro-ecology. Height for age and weight-for-height-irrespective-of-age have been recommended as monitors, especially for populations in developing countries. The latter poses methodological problems and is probably only legitimate between the ages of 1-0 and 9-9 years.