Growth of immigrant Chinese infants in the first year of life.
OBJECTIVE
To understand the growth patterns of Chinese-American infants from birth to 1 year old.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort design comparing the growth patterns of 163 Chinese infants living in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and 158 Chinese infants living in Taipei, Taiwan. All infants were born at full-term, without major medical illnesses.


RESULTS
Chinese-American infants were significantly heavier and longer than Taiwanese infants for all age groups and for both genders. Chinese-American infants were born at average weights, rose to the 70th to 80th percentile between 2 and 6 months, and declined to the 50th percentile or less at 9 to 12 months (when measured by American growth charts). When these infants' lengths and weights are plotted on Taiwan's growth curves, no such fluctuations were seen.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that rapid weight gain in Chinese-American infants in the first 6 months after birth can be expected, and may then lessen. By the first year, on average, these infants' weights will be < 50th percentile using the American National Center for Health Statistics growth standard. These findings can reassure health providers and help them to provide sound nutritional recommendations and counselling to parents.
Wu
T Y
TY
Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, USA. Tsu-yin.Wu@emich.edu
Daniel
L
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D044466:Asian People; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010371:Pediatric Nursing; D012016:Reference Values; D013624:Taiwan / Q000208:ethnology; D014481:United States