title: The growth of Portuguese and Cape Verdean infants aged 0-1 year living in Greater Lisbon, Portugal in 1993-1996.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To document the growth of Portuguese and Cape Verdean infants living in Greater Lisbon, Portugal according to the WHO 2006 Growth Standard.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mixed effects models were applied to serial weight, length, BMI, head circumference and triceps and subscapular skin-fold thickness data from 263 infants (134 Portuguese, 129 Cape Verdean) aged 0.01-1.08 years. Models tested systematic differences between ethnic groups. Individual monthly estimates were converted to Z-scores and plotted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in growth curves between ethnic groups, except for subscapular skin-fold growth in girls; at 1 year of age Cape Verdeans had a 1 mm advantage. Despite growth in BMI against the WHO standard being characterized by apparent accelerated growth and final Z-scores close to the 75(th) centile, triceps Z-scores were consistently low and subscapular Z-scores roughly approximated the 50(th) centile after age 7 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cape Verdean infants may develop higher levels of adiposity than Portuguese infants for the same BMI, a phenomenon common in children from developing nations. Because infants had high BMI but low skin-fold values against the WHO standard, research is needed to understand how change over age in BMI according to the WHO standard reflects changes in body composition.
authors: Division of Epidemiology & Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. wojohnso@umn.edu
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Johnson
authors: Sílvia
authors: S
authors: Costa
authors: Raquel
authors: R
authors: Delgado
authors: Rita
authors: R
authors: Guerra
authors: Vítor
authors: V
authors: Rosado
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D055726:Cabo Verde / Q000453:epidemiology; D002508:Cephalometry; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D048788:Growth and Development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D014944:World Health Organization