The UK's Scientific Advisory Committee for Nutrition and the Royal College 
of Pediatrics and Child Health have reported after their consultation on 
using the WHO growth chart in the UK.  You can find their report at:
http://www.sacn.gov.uk/ 

I am pasting in the press release below. 

After years of voicing my opinion on this, I am really delighted that this 
report highlights the need for training if and when the WHO standards are 
brought in, and also that they are doing a pilot.   As my daughter texted me 
the day the UK government adopted the WHO recommendation for 6 months of 
exclusive breastfeeding 'Mum, they finally admited you were right'. 

Magda Sachs, PhD
Breastfeeding Supporter, BfN, UK 

2007/0235 

Monday 13th August 2007 

NEW REPORT ON CHILD GROWTH STANDARDS WELCOMED 

Department of Health to set up pilot study 

A new report published today recommending the adoption of World
Health Organisation (WHO) Child Growth Standards in the UK, has been
welcomed by the Department of Health. 

The joint report, by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition
(SACN) and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH),
says WHO Growth Standards should be applied to children aged from 2
weeks to 24 months. 

Current UK growth charts are based on predominantly formula fed
babies and reflect "how babies were growing" in the UK. WHO charts
prescribe "how babies should grow" under optimum conditions including
exclusive breastfeeding for healthier outcomes. 

WHO standards are based exclusively on breastfed infants and can be
used for assessing and monitoring growth of all babies and
encourage mothers to exclusively breastfeed for the first six months
of a baby's life. 

Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for babies and the
Department of Health recommends exclusive breastfeeding up to the age
of six months. 

The Department is working with the RCPCH to pilot and test the
practical aspects of implementation the new standards. 

Dawn Primarolo, Public Health Minister said:
"We welcome this report from the Expert Group on Growth Standards. We
are committed to promoting breastfeeding and these new standards will
help alleviate mothers' concerns regarding the difference in growth
patterns often observed between breastfed and formula-fed babies.
Our next step is to consider the practical aspects of implementing
them effectively. 

"It's important that we field test the new standards and put in place
appropriate training for users." 

Professor Peter Aggett, chair, Standing Committee on Nutrition for
the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health: 

"The recommendations to adopt the WHO Standards for early life are an
important means to support the exclusive breast feeding of babies in
the first six months of life and the development of early growth
patterns that could reduce the risk of these children becoming
overweight and developing life threatening diseases in later life.
It is crucial that all healthcare professionals are trained so that
they are competent in using and interpreting the revised charts." 

In July 2006, the Department asked SACN and the RCPCH for an opinion
on the relevance of WHO growth standards to growth monitoring and
population surveillance in the UK. 

Recommendations in the report include: 

• Adopting the new WHO standards from 2 weeks of age to 24
months and then transfer to UK references
• WHO Growth Standards describe the growth of infants in good
health who were exclusively or predominantly breastfed for at least 4
months. They are applicable to all infants, whether breast or formula-
fed. The new standards may help to establish exclusive breastfeeding
as the norm in the first half of infancy.
• When compared to the UK1990 reference, the WHO Growth
Standards depict a pattern of slower weight gain between 4 to 24
months and should be preferred to UK1990 references during this
period. Current evidence suggests that such a pattern of growth could
potentially reduce the risk of later obesity.
• The feasibility of using WHO Standards from 2 weeks of
postnatal age to 24 months and UK1990 from 24 months onwards requires
piloting and field-testing before being adopted.
• Additional training and guidance for child health
professionals on the use and interpretation of WHO growth standards
and UK1990 references for monitoring growth in clinical practice. 

ENDS
Notes for Editors:
1. A copy of the report is available at www.sacn.gov.uk and
www.rcpch.ac.uk 

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