A quarter of all British babies will be redefined as heavier than the norm, if new child growth charts produced by the World Health Organization are approved.
Babies' weights are currently plotted against 1980s data.
The new WHO charts aim to show how breastfed babies "should grow", rather than how most babies do grow.
They are based on a select group of 8,000 babies from six cities around the world, who were entirely breastfed for six months, with continued breastfeeding into their second year, and where none of the families smoked.
The result of using this "ideal" sample of babies is a markedly changed growth curve for weight than the ones currently used in Britain - which include both formula and breastfed babies.
Breastfed babies put on more weight in the first few weeks but then slow down.
The 50th centile in the charts is the line showing a rate of growth where half will be above and half below.
The new 50th centile from the WHO shows growth after one year which is about half a kilo, or one pound lighter.
It would mean that a quarter of all babies would, in one statistical sweep, jump from below the 50th centile to above it.
The WHO argues that the new growth charts will help to promote breastfeeding as the optimal source of nutrition during infancy.
Bonnie - this is a very positive step in the right direction for producing healthier adults. I hope the US will adopt these new standards as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment