Growth Standards

The Growth Standards Working Group

WHO published new Child Growth Standards for infants and children up to the age of 5 years. These charts characterise the growth of children in a well supported health environment, drawn from a sample of six different countries: Brazil, Ghana, India, Norway, Oman and USA. The Department of Health asked SACN and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) for advice on their potential for use in the United Kingdom. An expert subgroup has been set up to advise the Department of Health on the suitability and applicability of the new WHO Growth Standards in the UK.

Terms of Reference

To consider the suitability of the WHO Multicentre Growth Standards for use in the United Kingdom, specifically:

  • to consider the proposal that the WHO reference constitutes a "standard"
  • to consider the implications for crossâ€"sectional monitoring of the UK population, in particular the effect of its adoption on the number of children up to 60 months of age identified as underweight, wasted, overweight or of low stature
  • to consider the implications for the longitudinal growth monitoring of individuals
  • to consider any implications for guidance on infant and young child feeding practices and
  • to make recommendations

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