Kids worldwide can grow the same

Children born anywhere in the world who are given an optimum start in life can all develop to within the same range of height and weight.Researchers from WHO started a study in 1997 to develop a new international standard for assessing the physical growth, nutritional status and motor development in all children from birth to age five. The study was conducted on more than 8,000 children from Brazil, Ghana, India, Norway, Oman and the United States. The standards developed showed how children should grow and how these are used to detect under-nutrition or obesity at an early age. They cover a range of targets, such as the optimum weight-for-age, length and height-for-age as well as Body Mass Index. They also include standard motor development milestones such as sitting, standing and walking. A seven-year study, across populations from every continent showed that children from India who were breastfed, vaccinated, given proper health care and whose mothers avoided tobacco had comparable growth patterns to those from richer countries like Norway.The study also showed that nutrition, feeding practices, environment, and health care are stronger factors in the growth of children to age five than genetics or ethnic background. A poor start to life can lead to lifelong consequences such as chronic illness like heart disease, mental deficiencies, cancer and diabetes. The WHO Child Growth Standards provide new means to support every child to get the best chance to develop in the most important formative years. Such a tool is helpful, as it serves to reduce death and disease in infants and young children.