The growth patterns of American-born Chinese infants

Abstract

Recent studies indicate that the growth status of Asian children has improved considerably. However, One major concern is that the excessive weight gain during infancy could increase adiposity and could lead to childhood obesity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the growth pattern of American-born Chinese infants by conducting a retrospective chart review of the growth pattern of infants who were seen at the University of Michigan Pediatric Clinic from 1985 to 1994. Results from this study showed that both genders have similar growth patterns. From t-test analyses, the data also showed that the growth rates of both American-born Chinese male and female infants were significantly different from that of NCHS standards at comparable ages. In addition, feeding practices influenced infant growth in this study. Breast-fed male infants gained less weight than bottle-fed male infants. American-born Chinese infants, grew rapidly both in weight and length during the first six months of life. This appears to be a normal growth pattern for these infants. Further investigation is needed to determine the affects of genetic and dietary factors on the growth pattern of American-born Chinese infants.