Follow-up Study of Physical Growth of Children based on Kaup-Davenport Index

Abstract

This paper discusses the physical growth of children based on the Kaup-Davenport Index. The samples were selected from children who were born in 1972 within the jurisdiction of K Health Center in Tokyo. They have been observed since they were three months of age. The data were collected for each infant as they reached the ages of 3, 4, 6 and 9 months, and later, at the ages of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 years. The results are as follows:1) No sex differences were detected in A(A'), B and C groups classifications determined by the Kaup-Davenport Index at the selected age above mentioned.2) The body types which were initially classified by the Kaup-Davenport Index in infancy were similar to the body types seen at school age.3) It was suggested that eating habits during preschool years were related to the physical growth in early childhood.4) The medical factors observed at 3 months of age seemed related to the body type at 6 years of age.5) Considering the adolescent growth spurt, further investigation will be needed to trace the changes through childhood and the factors which influence them.