New baby growth charts to track health

By Jyoti Pal

Promote breastfeeding
The growth charts currently in use are based on the 1990 formula-fed baby data. As formula fed babies tend to gain weight faster than their breast fed counterparts, such babies weigh about a kg (2.2lbs) more by the age of one.

The weight difference and slow growth in breastfeeding babies prompts mothers to replace breastfeed with formula feed. The tendency of gaining weight faster and earlier in life is linked to a higher risk of obesity later, experts caution.

The new chart, a result of a 15-year study by the WHO enrolling 8,500 children from across six countries, establishes how well a breastfed baby should grow.

According to the new charts, a one year old baby should weigh around one kilo (2.2lbs) lighter than the old chart reading.

“With the previous charts a breastfed baby could be growing perfectly normally but would appear to the health visitor as not to be growing as fast as the charts recommended, so there might have been pressure to wean early,” Tim Cole, Professor at The Institute of Child Health said.

“The new charts will not only provide more accurate measurements for infant growth of breastfed babies, but will also help health care professionals and parents to identify early signs of overweight or obesity and provide support,” Dr. Sheila Shribman, the government’s maternity head assured.

According to breastfeeding guidelines, babies should be breast fed for the first six months and then supplemented with food for another six months. However, of the eight in 10 mothers who breastfeed their children, only 22 percent continue till six months.

Combat obesity
While on the one hand, the new system will promote breastfeeding, on the other it will double the number of babies classed as overweight to 6 percent. This, experts believe, will help identify those at risk of obesity at an earlier stage.

In Britain, one in three adults and one in four children are classed as overweight or obese.

Implementation
While all new babies in UK will be tracked according to the new readings from 11 May, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will adopt them in the coming months, health authorities announced.