Growth patterns in the first year of life: what is the norm?
The use of reference standards, such as those of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), for determining the health and nutritional status of breast-fed infants and children has been questioned. A recent study found that the mean weight of formula-fed infants remained at about the 50th percentile throughout their first year, whereas that of breast-fed infants fell below the 50th percentile well before age one year. Although these children probably are not at nutritional risk, deviation from the national reference data could lead to unnecessary infant monitoring and testing as well as undue parental concern.
Sheard
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NF
Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 01003.
D001942:Breast Feeding; D006128:Growth; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D012016:Reference Values