Weight-for-stature reference data of prepubescent Egyptian children, Moushira Zaki, Nayera Hassan, Sahar A. El-Masry, Wafaa Kandeel and Fawzia Hussien
Moushira E. Zaki, Nayera E. Hassan, Sahar A. El-Masry, Wafaa A. Kandeel and Fawzia H. Hussien, National Research Centre, Egypt
Abstract: Weight-for-stature is widely used as an index of recent malnutrition. The aim is to construct weight-for-stature percentile curves of prepubescent Egyptian children and to compare these curves with the revised US growth charts. In addition, weight-for-stature mean values were generated for boys and girls. The study is a cross sectional one including 7,254 healthy children (4,012 boys and 3,242 girls). Data of weight were calculated for each 3 cm interval of stature. The percentile points of weight-for-stature at 3rd, 5th, 10th, 15th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 85th, 90th, 95th and 97th percentiles were calculated and plotted on a graph at the mid point of each 3-cm interval for stature. The current Egyptian curves were increasingly higher at 50th and the 97th percentiles than those of the US standards. However, the 3rd percentile in the present study coincides with the US percentile. Thus, Egyptian percentiles should be used in identifying Egyptian children at nutritional risk.
Keywords: Weight-for-stature, Percentile curves, Nutrition
