Korean J Pediatr.  2008 Jan;51(1):1-25. 10.3345/kjp.2008.51.1.1.

2007 Korean National Growth Charts: review of developmental process and an outlook

• Moon JS
• Lee SY
• Nam CM
• Choi JM
• Choe BK
• Seo JW
• Oh K
• Jang MJ
• Hwang SS
• Yoo MH
• Kim YT
• Lee CG

• KMID: 1487154
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3345/kjp.2008.51.1.1

Abstract

PURPOSE: Since 1967, The Korean Pediatric Society and Korean Government have developed Korean Growth Standards every 10 years. Last version was published in 1998. During past 40 years, Korean Growth Standards were mainly descriptive charts without any systematic nor statistical standardization. With the global epidemic of obesity, many authorities such as World Health Organization (WHO) and United States' Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have been changed their principles of growth charts to cope with the situations like ours. This article summarizes and reviews the whole developmental process of new 2007 Korean Growth Charts with discussion.
METHODS
With the initiative of Division of Chronic Disease Surveillance in Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we have performed new national survey for the development of new Standards in 2005 and identified marked increase of childhood obesity and plateau of secular increment of final height in late adolescents. We have developed new Growth Standards via adapting several innovative methods, including standardization of all available raw data, which were acquired in 1997 and 2005 national survey and full application of LMS method.
RESULTS
We could get new standardized charts; weight-for-age, length/height-for-age, weight-for-height, head circumference-for-age and BMI-for-age. Other non-standardized charts based on 2005 survey data were also published; waist circumference-for-age, mid-arm circumference-for-age, chest circumference-for-age and skinfold-for-age. Clinical guideline was also developed.
CONCLUSION
Developmental process and results of new Korean Growth Charts are comparable with other internationally well-known Growth Standards, WHO 2006 Growth Standards and CDC Growth Charts. 2007 Korean Growth Charts are relevant especially in Korea and Korean ethnic groups.

Keyword

Korea; Growth; Standard; Weight; Height; Obesity

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
Chronic Disease
Ethnic Groups
Growth Charts
Head
Humans
Korea
Obesity
Phosphatidylethanolamines
Thorax
World Health Organization
Phosphatidylethanolamines