Original Article

Trends in Anthropometric Measurements of Internationally Adopted Children

Authors: Samantha L. Hanna, MD, MPH, Meghan E. Hofto, MD, MPH, Mary M. Orr, MD, MPH, Carin Kiser, MD, AKM Fazlur Rahman, PhD, Adolfo L. Molina, MD, MSHQS

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe anthropometric measures from internationally adopted children. Internationally adopted children are at risk for poor growth and development and there is no standardized growth chart evaluation for internationally adopted children due to variations in growth, genetics, and environmental exposures.

Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of 882 patients seen in an international adoption clinic between 2010 and 2017. Anthropometric measurements were converted to Z scores for weight, height, head circumference, and body mass index.

Results: A total of 41 countries and 16 subregions were represented. Central America, northern Africa, southern Africa, and southern Europe were the only subregions that had positive mean Z scores for weight, and southeast Asia had the lowest mean Z score for weight (n = 40, −1.76). No subregion had a positive mean Z score for height, and western Asia had the lowest overall mean Z score for height (n = 2, −2.44). Mean Z score for body mass index was positive in several subregions.

Conclusions: Growth is an important predictor of health and development, and this study adds to the literature on growth patterns of internationally adopted children.

This content is limited to qualifying members.

Existing members, please login first

If you have an existing account please login now to access this article or view purchase options.

Purchase only this article ($25)

Create a free account, then purchase this article to download or access it online for 24 hours.

Purchase an SMJ online subscription ($75)

Create a free account, then purchase a subscription to get complete access to all articles for a full year.

Purchase a membership plan (fees vary)

Premium members can access all articles plus recieve many more benefits. View all membership plans and benefit packages.

References

1. Van Ijzendoorn MH, Bakermans-Kranenburg MJ, Juffer F. Plasticity of growth in height, weight, and head circumference: meta-analytic evidence of massive catch-up after international adoption. J Dev Behav Pediatr. Aug 2007;28(4):334–43. doi:10.1097/DBP.0b013e31811320aa.
 
2. Schwarzenberg SJ, Georgieff MK, Committee On N. Advocacy for Improving Nutrition in the First 1000 Days to Support Childhood Development and Adult Health. Pediatrics. Feb 2018;141(2) doi:10.1542/peds.2017-3716.
 
3. Williams AM, Suchdev PS. Assessing and Improving Childhood Nutrition and Growth Globally. Pediatr Clin North Am. Aug 2017;64(4):755–768. doi:10.1016/j.pcl.2017.03.001.
 
4. Park H, Bothe D, Holsinger E, et al. The impact of nutritional status and longitudinal recovery of motor and cognitive milestones in internationally adopted children. Int J Environ Res Public Health. Jan 2011;8(1):105–16. doi:10.3390/ijerph8010105.
 
5. Cohen NJ, Lojkasek M, Zadeh ZY, et al. Children adopted from China: a prospective study of their growth and development. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. Apr 2008;49(4):458–68. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2007.01853.x.
 
6. Kroupina MG, Eckerle JK, Fuglestad AJ, et al. Associations between physical growth and general cognitive functioning in international adoptees from Eastern Europe at 30 months post-arrival. J Neurodev Disord. 2015; 7:36. doi:10.1186/s11689-015-9132-7.
 
7. United Nations DoEaSA, Statistics Division. Standard country or area codes for statistical use (M49). https://unstats.un.org/unsd/methodology/m49.
 
8. Organization WH. Child growth standards: WHOAnthro Survey Analyser and other tools. 2019. https://www.who.int/tools/child-growth-standards/software.
 
9. Barratt MS. International adoption. Pediatr Rev. Mar 2013;34(3):145–6. doi: 10.1542/pir.34-3-145.
 
10. Cochran ME, Nelson KR, Robin NH. International adoption of children with birth defects: current knowledge and areas for further research. Curr Opin Pediatr. Dec 2014;26(6):621–5. doi:10.1097/MOP.0000000000000144.
 
11. DeLacey E, Tann C, Groce N, et al. The nutritional status of children living within institutionalized care: a systematic review. PeerJ. 2020;8:e8484. doi: 10.7717/peerj.8484.