title: [Epidemiological investigation of birth information and physique status in 9 to 15-year-old children from Chengdu City of Sichuan Province].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  As the intrauterine environment can affect childhood growth and development, this study aims to understand the relationship between birth gestational age, birth weight and physique development in 9 to 15-year-old children by a cross sectional investigation in Chengdu City, Sichuan Province.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 7194 9 to 15-year-old school children were classified according to birth gestational age and birth weight: small for gestational age (SGA), appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and large for gestational age (LGA). Their heights and weights were measured. Parents completed a questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of SGA was 6.23% (448 cases), and 5.13% of children in the SGA group did not undergo "catch-up growth" (lower than -2 SD). The mean height in these children at various stages was significantly lower than in the AGA group (P<0.05). The prevalence of LGA was 18.06% (1299 cases). A total of 179 children (13.78%) were found to be overweight and 57 children (4.39%) were found to be obese in the LGA group. The mean weight in the LGA group at various stages was significantly higher than in the AGA group (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Height and weight development in children born SGA and LGA are different from normal children. More attention should be given to aspects of height and weight development in these school children.
authors.affiliation: West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Ting-Zhu
authors.initials: TZ
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001724:Birth Weight; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male