title: Trends in Anthropometric Measures Among US Children 6 to 23 Months, 1976-2014.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The surveillance of children's growth reflects a population's nutritional status and risk for adverse outcomes. This study aimed to describe trends in length-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-length, and early childhood weight gain among US children aged 6 to 23 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed NHANES data from 1976-1980, 1988-1994, 1999-2002, 2003-2006, 2007-2010, and 2011-2014. We estimatedzscores < -2 (low) and ≥+2 (high) in comparison with World Health Organization growth standards for each indicator. Weight gain (relative to sex-age-specific medians) from birth until survey participation was estimated. Trends were assessed by low birth weight status and race/Hispanic origin. Race/Hispanic origin trends were assessed from 1988-1994 to 2011-2014.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2011-2014, the prevalence of low and high length-for-age was 3.3% (SE, 0.8) and 3.7% (SE, 0.8); weight-for-age was 0.6% (SE, 0.3) and 7.0% (SE, 1.1); and weight-for-length was 1.0% (SE, 0.4) and 7.7% (SE, 1.2). The only significant trend was a decrease in high length-for-age (5.5% in 1976-1980 vs 3.7% in 2011-2014;P= .04). Relative weight gain between birth and survey participation did not differ over time, although trends differed by race/Hispanic origin. Non-Hispanic black children gained more weight between birth and survey participation in 2011-2014 versus 1988-1994, versus no change among other groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Between 1976-1980 and 2011-2014, there were no significant trends in low or high weight-for-age and weight-for-length among 6- to 23-month-old children whereas the percent with high length-for-age decreased. A significant trend in relative weight gain between birth and survey participation was observed among non-Hispanic black children.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, Maryland; and lea8@cdc.gov.|United States Public Health Service, Rockville, Maryland.
authors.forename: Lara J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Akinbami
authors.affiliation: National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, Maryland; and.|United States Public Health Service, Rockville, Maryland.
authors.forename: Brian K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Kit
authors.affiliation: National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, Maryland; and.
authors.forename: Margaret D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.affiliation: National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, Maryland; and.
authors.forename: Tala H I
authors.initials: THI
authors.lastname: Fakhouri
authors.affiliation: National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, Maryland; and.
authors.forename: Cynthia L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Ogden
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009309:National Center for Health Statistics, U.S.; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D015430:Weight Gain