Percentile curves for body-mass index of Punjabi infants.

OBJECTIVE

To study percentile distance growth pattern of Body Mass Index (BMI) of Punjabi male and female infants.

DESIGN

Longitudinal.

SETTING

Growth Clinic.

SUBJECTS

154 Punjabi infants (Male 86; Female 68), aged birth-12 months.

FOLLOW-UP: Nude body weight and crownheel length of all babies at birth and whereafter, were measured at monthly age intervals with time tolerance to +/-3 days by the same investigator upto 12 months of life.

RESULTS

Mean (+/- SD) values for BMI measured 12.2 +/- 1.40 kg/m2 and 16.5 +/- 1.40 kg/m2 at birth and 12 months, respectively in male infants. The corresponding figures for female infants were 12.5 +/- 1.60 kg/ m2 and 16.5 +/- 1.50 kg/m2. A rapid increase in BMI values amongst infants of both sexes between birth to about six months followed by flattening of curves upto 12 months of age indicates an age dependent nature of BMI during first half of infancy in comparison to latter half during which these demonstrated stable trend. These findings are in contrast to those of the western infants who showed a regular increase in BMI throughout the first year of life. Sex differences were not significant at majority of the age levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Percentile grids presented for BMI represent a normal, healthy and well-nourished infant population which can be used to assess the adiposity status of infants of the two sexes during the first year of life.