A longitudinal study of growth in length and weight of Punjabi infants in Chandigarh, India

Abstract

One hundred and fifty-four Punjabi infants (86 male, 68 female) were followed longitudinally and their lengths and weights measured each month during the first year of life. Monthly distance and velocity means for their weight and crown-heel length with the respective standard deviations are presented. The general pattern of growth is characterized by a period of rapid initial increase followed by a period of slower increment during the second half of infancy. Length velocity decreased from birth onwards, but weight velocity shows a peak at around 1.5 months, followed by a decline.