THE WHO MULTICENTRE GROWTH CHARTS

Growth charts were already in use and several countries, including India, had local growth charts. In the early 2000s, the WHO undertook the task of creating a multicountry growth reference standard. The aim was to create a set of standards, based on the growth of breast fed babies, as these babies were likely to represent how babies should grow. The WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study (MGRS) was carried out between 1997 and 2003. A standard defines how children should grow, deviations from the pattern it describes are evidence of abnormal growth. A reference, on the other hand just provides and serves as a tool for comparison. The MGRS data provide a solid foundation for developing a standard because they are based on healthy children living under conditions likely to favour achievement of their full genetic growth potential. A cross-sectional design was adopted for children aged 18 to 71 months, as growth in this age range is more linear than for younger children. The WHO recommends the application of the MGRS charts for all children worldwide, regardless of ethnicity. Several countries have officially adopted the new standards and many others are in the process of doing so. Adopting and applying these standards will enable direct comparisons of the state of nutrition of under-5 children across nations, and provide comparable estimates of the levels of malnutrition. The 5 to 19 year charts can help in building up data on the creeping epidemic of childhood obesity in India.