Social class difference in catch up growth in a national British cohort

Abstract
AIM To examine the influence of socioeconomic status on growth pattern in height from age 7 to 23 years. METHODS Prospective cohort study. A total of 10 200 white singleton born children from the 1958 British birth cohort (National Child Development Study) were analysed. RESULTS Differences in height by birth weight persisted throughout the follow up period. However, the mean differences in height between low birth weight infants (CONCLUSION The growth retardation in height by birth weight can be overcome by improved social conditions and proper health care from childhood to adulthood.