Physical growth from birth to 16 years and longitudinal outcome of the study during the same age period

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Abstract
Physical growth of 212 randomly selected Swedish urban children was investigated from birth to 16 yr as part of a prospective longitudinal study of growth and development. Twenty body measurements were taken at specified ages. At 16 yr 179 (84.4%) of the original children were still regularly being followed. Of the 212 children, 33 (15.6%) left the study at various ages. A comparison between the children who left the study and those remaining did not show any significant differences in physical growth. All recorded data were scrutinized in order to detect errors of measurement or administrative errors. Such values were corrected or excluded. The editorial procedures also included the adjustment of each measurement to exact target age, interpolation of missing examinations and exclusion of children with an aberrant growth pattern. When comparing the present study with older Swedish investigations a secular trend was established, while there was good agreement with other contemporary Swedish investigations. Growth charts of distance values of various body measurements were presented. In the charts standard deviation lines (.+-. 1, 2, 3 SD) and mean values were plotted. A logarithmic time scale (logarithmic conceptional age) has been used for both practical and theoretical reasons. When evaluating individual values in comparison with reference values standard deviations were used rather than centiles. With this approach even grossly deviating values can be evaluated. Longitudinal follow-up of individual children and comparison of children of different ages will also be facilitated by this approach.