Japanese growth charts stratified by birth weight in 500-gram increments: Findings from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study

Growth charts are essential tools for monitoring the physical development of children. We analyzed data from a nationwide Japanese birth cohort of 98,987 participants to create eight growth charts stratified by birth weight in 500-gram increments. Infants with birth weight < 2,500 g showed significant improvements in height and weight standard deviation (SD) scores by 4 yr of age. Boys and girls weighing 500-999 g at birth had average length/height SD scores of -6.40 and -8.20, which improved to -1.26 and -1.17 by 4 yr of age, respectively. Conversely, infants with birth weight ≥ 3,500 g showed decreased height and weight SD scores by 4 yr of age. Boys and girls weighing ≥ 4,000 g had average length/height SD scores of 1.87 and 2.10 at birth, which decreased to 0.34 and 0.51 by 4 yr of age, respectively. These findings reveal distinct growth patterns for different birth weight categories, highlighting the impact of birth weight on early childhood growth trajectories. The growth charts developed here serve as a valuable tool for evaluating children born small or large. These charts enable a more accurate monitoring of children's growth and can be useful in both clinical and public health settings.

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Publication Details

Journal
Clinical Pediatric Endocrinology
Published
2025-01-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1297/cpe.2024-0063
Primary Topic
Birth, Development, and Health
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Japanese growth charts stratified by birth weight in 500-gram increments: Findings from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study

Naomi Tamura, Reiko Kishi, Yoshiya Ito, Kazutoshi Cho et al.
Clinical Pediatric Endocrinology
Birth, Development, and Health
article

Japanese growth charts stratified by birth weight in 500-gram increments: Findings from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study

Naomi Tamura, Reiko Kishi, Yoshiya Ito, Kazutoshi Cho, Akinori Moriichi, Hiroyoshi Iwata, Akie Nakamura, Mariko Itoh, Maki Tojo, Keitaro Makino, Yasuaki Saijo, Taro Yamauchi, Takeshi Yamaguchi, Yumi Kono, Sachiko Itoh
article en

Abstract

Growth charts are essential tools for monitoring the physical development of children. We analyzed data from a nationwide Japanese birth cohort of 98,987 participants to create eight growth charts stratified by birth weight in 500-gram increments. Infants with birth weight < 2,500 g showed significant improvements in height and weight standard deviation (SD) scores by 4 yr of age. Boys and girls weighing 500-999 g at birth had average length/height SD scores of -6.40 and -8.20, which improved to -1.26 and -1.17 by 4 yr of age, respectively. Conversely, infants with birth weight ≥ 3,500 g showed decreased height and weight SD scores by 4 yr of age. Boys and girls weighing ≥ 4,000 g had average length/height SD scores of 1.87 and 2.10 at birth, which decreased to 0.34 and 0.51 by 4 yr of age, respectively. These findings reveal distinct growth patterns for different birth weight categories, highlighting the impact of birth weight on early childhood growth trajectories. The growth charts developed here serve as a valuable tool for evaluating children born small or large. These charts enable a more accurate monitoring of children's growth and can be useful in both clinical and public health settings.

Clinical Pediatric EndocrinologyVol. 34(4)
Jichi Medical University (JP), Asahikawa Medical University (JP), Health Sciences University of Hokkaido (JP), Sapporo University (JP), Hokkaido University (JP), Japanese Red Cross Hokkaido College of Nursing (JP), Hokkaido hospital (JP), National Center For Child Health and Development (JP), Japan Community Healthcare Organization (JP), Hokkaido University Hospital (JP), Jichi Medical University Hospital (JP)
National Center for Child Health and Development, Hokkaido University, Chiba University, Nagoya City University
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