title: Comparison of the China growth charts with the WHO growth standards in assessing malnutrition of children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the difference between the China growth reference and the WHO growth standards in assessing malnutrition of children under 5 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  The households selected from 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in mainland China (except Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao).
  
  
  METHODS
  Households were selected by using a stratified, multistage probability cluster sampling. Children under 5 years of age in the selected households were recruited (n=15,886).
  
  
  METHODS
  Underweight, stunting, wasting, overweight and obesity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to the China growth reference, the prevalence of underweight (8.7% vs 4.8%), stunting (17.2% vs 16.1%) and wasting (4.4% vs 3%) was significantly higher than that based on the WHO growth standards, respectively (p<0.001); the prevalence of overweight was lower than that based on the WHO growth standards (9.4% vs 10.2%, p<0.001). In most cases, the prevalence of undernutrition assessed by using the China growth reference was significantly higher. However, the prevalence of overweight was significantly lower by using China charts for boys aged 3-4, 6, 8, 10, 12-18 and 24 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The WHO growth standards could be more conservative in undernutrition estimation and more applicable for international comparison for Chinese children. Future researches are warranted for using the WHO growth standards within those countries with local growth charts when there are distinct differences between the two.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Trace Element Nutrition, Ministry of Health of China, National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhenyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Trace Element Nutrition, Ministry of Health of China, National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yifan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Trace Element Nutrition, Ministry of Health of China, National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Guansheng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Trace Element Nutrition, Ministry of Health of China, National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoguang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Trace Element Nutrition, Ministry of Health of China, National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Shian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yin
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D057238:Growth Charts; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D012016:Reference Values; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014944:World Health Organization
keywords: China growth reference; WHO growth standards; children under 5; malnutrition