HEIGTH, WEIGHT AND BMI CENTILES OF SCHOOLCHILDREN OF ULAANBAATAR, MONGOLIA: COMPARISON WITH WHO AND CDC GROWTH REFERENCES

Abstract

Background: In Mongolia, children’s growth monitored by WHO and CDC growth charts. The purpose of the study was to compare the growth of UB school children with the WHO and CDC growth reference curves. Methods: 8046 pupils aged 6-17 years old participated in the study. The subjects were sampled 4044 boys and 4002 girls. Height and weight were measured with Physician Beam Scale. Growth references were generated by the LMS method. The centiles were compared to the WHO and CDC. The 3rd, 50th and 97th centiles were plotted along with the corresponding values of WHO and CDC. Results: In Mongolian children the overall height was below compared to both WHO and CDC references, with the highest differences at 12-17 years, 14-17 years and 13-17 years of age at P3, P50 and P97 respectively. Body weight in girls of UB city was slightly heavier compared to the WHO and CDC counterparts on the 3rd and 50th centiles, but on the 97th centile the WHO and CDC counterparts became significantly heavier than Mongolian girls, especially at the 12-17 years of age. Body weight in boys of UB city was lighter than the WHO and CDC references at 12-17 years old age. In Mongolian children BMI was greater on the 3rd centile. But on the 50th centile the BMI of Mongolian boys became smaller at 14-17 years old compared to WHO and CDC references Conclusion: The height, weight and BMI values of developed growth curves for Mongolian school children differ compared to the WHO and CDC growth references, especially for schoolchildren aged 12 years and upwards.