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Growth curves of anthropometric indices in a general population of French children and comparison with reference data

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 60, pages 1430–1436 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Background:

The description of growth patterns of the different anthropometric measurements mainly used in epidemiological studies is useful to better understand the development of obesity in children and its consequences.

Objective:

Our aim was to establish growth curves of anthropometric indices in a general population of French children born during the 1980s and to compare them with the French reference curves based on children born in the 1950s.

Design:

As part of the Fleurbaix Laventie Ville Santé Studies I and II (FLVS), 441 girls and 467 boys were examined at least twice between 1993 and 2001. Height, weight and four skinfold thicknesses were measured. Body mass index (BMI), sum of peripheral and truncal skinfolds and truncal-to-peripheral ratio were calculated. Mean growth curves from ages 5 to 17 years were assessed for these indices, calculating means and 95% confidence interval per 1 year age group and by gender.

Results:

Trajectories with age differed importantly according to the index considered; BMI was the one with the smallest difference between genders and the most linear shape with age. From the age of 5 years and after, the FLVS children were on average taller and had a higher subcutaneous adiposity than children born 30 years earlier. Truncal-to-peripheral ratio was higher in our population; this difference became more marked with puberty in girls.

Discussion:

This study suggests the existence of a secular trend towards a precocious accelerated growth, and a more truncal adiposity distribution, especially in girls. It is a disquieting trend considering its expected consequences on adult health.

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Acknowledgements

We thank directors and teachers of the schools who made the study possible. This study was sponsored by Knoll, CEDUS, Groupe Fournier, Lesieur, Nestlé France, Produits Roche and TEPRAL. This work was supported by a grant from the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (FRM). MAC was the recipient of grants from the MGEN and the ALFEDIAM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. INSERM Unité 780-IFR69, Faculté de Médecine Paris Sud, Villejuif, Cedex, France

    B Heude, A Kettaneh, B de Lauzon Guillain, P Ducimetière & M-A Charles

  2. Association Fleurbaix Laventie Ville Santé, Laventie, France

    A Lommez & J-M Borys

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  1. B Heude
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  2. A Kettaneh
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  3. B de Lauzon Guillain
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  4. A Lommez
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  7. M-A Charles
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Correspondence to B Heude.

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Guarantors: B Heude and MA Charles.

Contributors: BH was responsible for data analysis and interpretation and for drafting the paper. AK and BdL participated in the data analysis process and discussion of the results and revised the paper. PD and MAC were responsible for the study design, supervised data analyses and revised the paper. AL and JMB were responsible for data collection and coordination of the follow-up and revised the paper. None of the authors had a personal or financial conflict of interest.

Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on European Journal of Clinical Nutrition website (http://www.nature.com/ejcn)

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Heude, B., Kettaneh, A., de Lauzon Guillain, B. et al. Growth curves of anthropometric indices in a general population of French children and comparison with reference data. Eur J Clin Nutr 60, 1430–1436 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602474

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