Hong Kong updates growth charts for children and adolescents

Four sets of gender-specific growth charts were developed for children under 18.

Hong Kong’s Department of Health (DH) will adopt a new set of growth charts starting in the second half of the year to better assess children's and adolescents' growth. 

The Hong Kong 2020 Growth References (HK2020)  developed four sets of gender-specific growth charts, including weight-for-age charts, length/height-for-age charts, body mass index (BMI)-for-age charts, and head circumference-for-age charts.

The HK2020 will be adopted in DH’s maternal and child health centres (MCHCs) and student health service centres (SHSCs) to monitor the growth of children aged 0 to 5 years and 6 to 18 years, respectively. 

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The growth charts are expected to be implemented in July for MCHCs and September for SHSCs.

Meanwhile, the Hospital Authority will implement the charts in its hospitals in phases starting from September to roll out to all its hospitals by the end of the year.