Study of growth in Chinese children, 0-3 aged, living in Bologna (Italy). A preliminary report

This paper is a preliminary report of an ongoing longitudinal study aimed at evaluating the growth of Chinese children living in Bologna. The auxological data for boys and girls were collected from birth to 3 years of age. The growth process was assessed by means of anthropometric measurements, including body length, weight and head circumference. These traits were analyzed with respect to international standards or the results of other studies. In addition, some main family characteristics are described. Our sample of Chinese-Italian children aged 0-3 years did not show the growth faltering observed in other studies of Chinese children. Conversely, these subjects developped according to the NCHS reference standards and to the observations reported for Italian children living in the same region (Emilia-Romagna). There was a slight decrease in weight and length rate only after the age of 12-18 months.