New Pediatric Growth Charts

Updated charts take breastfed babies into consideration

For the first time in more than two decades, the U.S. government is updating pediatric growth charts, taking data from both breastfed and formula-fed babies into account.

Since 1977, American breastfed babies have been measured according to growth charts based on formula-fed children, who are often heavier than their breastfed counterparts. The new growth charts use government data from the last 30 years on breastfed and formula-fed children from all ethnic groups. The old chart was based on a private study of formula-fed, primarily white children in Ohio.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, which produced the new growth charts along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about half of all American infants born in the last 20 years were breastfed, and about a third of babies were breastfed for three months or more. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization is working on a second set of growth charts, which will be based on data collected at seven international centers from exclusively breast-fed children.

In attempt to curb childhood obesity, the new CDC charts add the dimension of body mass index (BMI). BMI, which is a single number that compares weight to height, is already used to determine obesity among adults. With the new pediatric growth charts, healthcare providers hope to be able to determine early weight problems in children.

"The new growth charts not only provide a more accurate gauge for pediatric healthcare providers, but the BMI information offers them a new tool that can identify children who have the potential to become overweight down the road. The BMI is an early warning signal that is helpful as early as age 2," said Health and Human Services Secretary Donna E. Shalala.

The new charts are also based on recent information collected from a nation-wide study, which found that more than half of U.S. adults are overweight and the number of overweight children has increased significantly since 1977.

"These new CDC growth charts are an important new tool to identify growth problems at an early age so we can better prevent excess weight gain," said CDC director Dr. Jeffrey Koplan.

The new charts are available online at http://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts.