Comparison of the 2005 growth charts for Saudi children and adolescents to the 2000 CDC growth charts

Abstract

Growth parameters in the form of weight for age, height for age, weight for height and body mass index (BMI) are important tools for the assessment of the nutritional status of child d dren.Many countries have established their own refd d erence growth charts for children and adolescents.1d 3 In Saudi Arabia, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) growth charts are commonly used, based on the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO). 4A survey based on a nationally representative sample of Saudi child d dren younger than 5 years of age was completed in 1995. 5 The results of that study, as well as others, 6d8 pointed out important differences with the NCHS Comparison of the 2005 growth charts for Saudi children and adolescents to the 2000 CDC growth charts