Growth patterns of urban Malaysian children under 24 months of age in Selangor, Malaysia

Heng, Yaw Yong and Zalilah Mohd Shariff, . and Chee, Yen Wong (2023) Growth patterns of urban Malaysian children under 24 months of age in Selangor, Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Nutrition (Malaysia), 29. 001-015. ISSN 1394 – 035X

Introduction: To identify the growth patterns of young children during the first two years of life according to gestational age, birth weight, and growth status at 24 months of age. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of 4,570 young children in Selangor. Data were extracted from children’s health records in government health clinics. Growth data were analyzed using the Anthro Plus software that utilizes the World Health Organization growth standards. Results: Generally, wasting prevalence was the highest at birth and 24 months, but stunting was more predominant from 1 to 21 months. Weight-for-age z-scores (WAZ), length for-age z-scores (LAZ), and weight-for-length z-scores (WLZ) from birth to 24 months were within -3.00 to 0.00 standard deviation (SD) for preterm low birth weight children, -1.50 to 0.00 SD for preterm normal birth weight children, and -2.50 to 0.50 SD for full-term low birth weight children. While WAZ, LAZ, and WLZ from birth to 24 months for underweight/stunted/wasted children were within -2.50 to 0.50 SD, the values for overweight/obese (OV/OB) children were within -1.00 to 2.00 SD. For normal children, WAZ, LAZ, and WLZ exhibited comparable trends, with values within -1.00 to 0.00 SD from birth to 24 months. Conclusion: While stunting and wasting persisted as the most common forms of malnutrition in this sample of young children, the prevalence of OV/OB increased by 24 months. Interventions to promote child growth should focus not only on the prevention of undernutrition, but also on OV/OB.

Full text available from: Official URL: https://www.nutriweb.org.my/mjn/publication/29-1/V...

Abstract

Introduction: To identify the growth patterns of young children during the first two years of life according to gestational age, birth weight, and growth status at 24 months of age. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of 4,570 young children in Selangor. Data were extracted from children’s health records in government health clinics. Growth data were analyzed using the Anthro Plus software that utilizes the World Health Organization growth standards. Results: Generally, wasting prevalence was the highest at birth and 24 months, but stunting was more predominant from 1 to 21 months. Weight-for-age z-scores (WAZ), length for-age z-scores (LAZ), and weight-for-length z-scores (WLZ) from birth to 24 months were within -3.00 to 0.00 standard deviation (SD) for preterm low birth weight children, -1.50 to 0.00 SD for preterm normal birth weight children, and -2.50 to 0.50 SD for full-term low birth weight children. While WAZ, LAZ, and WLZ from birth to 24 months for underweight/stunted/wasted children were within -2.50 to 0.50 SD, the values for overweight/obese (OV/OB) children were within -1.00 to 2.00 SD. For normal children, WAZ, LAZ, and WLZ exhibited comparable trends, with values within -1.00 to 0.00 SD from birth to 24 months. Conclusion: While stunting and wasting persisted as the most common forms of malnutrition in this sample of young children, the prevalence of OV/OB increased by 24 months. Interventions to promote child growth should focus not only on the prevention of undernutrition, but also on OV/OB.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	child growth
AGROVOC Term:	infants
AGROVOC Term:	overweight
AGROVOC Term:	obesity
AGROVOC Term:	data analysis
AGROVOC Term:	monitoring and evaluation
AGROVOC Term:	children
AGROVOC Term:	nutritional status
AGROVOC Term:	public health
Geographical Term:	Malaysia
Depositing User:	Ms. Azariah Hashim
Date Deposited:	17 Feb 2026 03:51
Last Modified:	17 Feb 2026 03:51
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/3224

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