THE ASSESSMENT AND RECORDING OF MEASUREMENTS OF GROWTH OF CHILDREN: REPORT OF A SMALL CONFERENCE

[摘要] The most widely used standards for height and weight, those of Stuart and Meredith, are still appropriate references, although they do not accurately represent the U.S. child population. New standards based on current measurements of more representative population samples should be substituted and their use promoted. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Maternal and Child Health Service are currently exploring arrangements to accomplish this goal. Studies should be undertaken to ascertain the effectiveness of routine physical measures for detecting disorders of growth as indicators of significant disease.If measures other than length-height, weight, and head circumference prove meaningful for evaluating physical growth and if more productive interpretations of traditional physical growth data become possible, the American Academy of Pediatrics should disseminate this information and encourage its application through educational programs. Included in such an effort should be development of recording instruments which would increase accuracy, encourage and facilitate use of these measures, and enhance their interpretation.

[学科分类] 儿科学