Height and weight progression patterns in Mexican children aged between 6 and 12 years and differences with Ramos-Galvan growth charts 40 years later

Introduction: Children and adolescents weight and height are a reflection of the health status and socioeconomic development of a population. Objective: To evaluate height and weight progression patterns of Mexican children and compare them with Dr. Ramos-Galvan growth charts 40 years later. Method: Cross-sectional survey conducted on the population of the National Physical Activation Program "Ponte al 100", which includes boys and girls aged six to 12 years. Results: 43,670 boys and 44,103 girls were assessed, stratified by gender and age. The height progression pattern between six and 12 years was 21 cm in males and 22 cm in females, whereas the weight progression pattern was 9.86 and 10.05 kg, respectively, for males and females. The proportion of six- and 12-year-old boys who were overweight was 11.2 and 9 %, while 14.7 and 15 % were obese. The proportion of six- and 12-year-old girls who were overweight was 8.2 and 9.1 %, whereas 21.7 and 13.3 %, respectively, were obese. When the obtained values were compared with those of Dr. Ramos Galvan growth charts for boys and girls, the average difference was 2 cm. Conclusions: No secular height or weight increase within the last 40 years was documented.