Longitudinal growth study from Bilbao. Comparison with other growth standards

Abstract

A mixed-longitudinal growth study was carried out in Bilbao, an industrial city in northern Spain. In-this study, the first longitudinal study conducted in Spain, three cohorts of about 600 children, males and females, were followed for seven years. The ages at first examination were birth, five and nine years respectively. A comparison of our data on height, weight, weight/height ratio and triceps skinfold has been performed with those from five other countries: England, France, Sweden, Switzerland and U.S.A. The French study showed lower values than ours for all the parameters, the difference being statistically significant. When compared with the rest of the studies, for height it can be seen that all the countries show significantly higher values than ours at most ages. For weight, we found significance in the differences just where we didn’t find it for height, our children being heavier. 

Regarding the weight/height ratio, all the studies showed lower values than ours, thus it can be assumed our children are overweight in relation to those from the countries we have compared with. For triceps skinfold our values are lower up to the age of five and thereafter the sign of the differences changes. The differences observed demonstrate that in clinical practice local and national standards obtained from a representative sample of population are more suitable than international standards.