Longitudinal growth study of tasmanian children. The ten-year-olds.

The data obtained at the 10-year examination of children in a longitudinal growth study are presented. The heights and weights of children appear to be comparable with those of children in other regions, but certain ethnic, social and economic factors as well as elapsed time have to be considered. From the percentages of overweight boys and girls at each of various years of the child's development--namely, birth, one year, three years, seven years and 10 years--it is shown that there is no one period in which children are likely to become overweight. Birth weight was found to be of minor importance in determining a child's weight at 10 years of age. Many children have wrong concepts about their own weight status.