Differences between WHO Growth Standards and China Growth Standards in Assessing the Nutritional Status of Children Aged 0–36 Months Old

Background: At present, whether to use the World Health Organization’s (WHO) growth standards or native growth standards to assess the nutritional status in a given population is unclear. This study aimed to compare the differences between the WHO’s growth standards and China’s growth standards in assessing the nutritional status of children aged 0~36 months. Methods: We used z-scores to evaluate the nutritional status of children. The weight-for-age z-scores (WAZs), length/height-for-age z-scores (LAZ/HAZs), and weight-for-length/height z-scores (WLZ/WHZs) were calculated using the WHO’s growth standards and China’s growth standards. MeNemar’s test was used to compare the nutritional status of children. Results: The results in this study showed that there were differences between the WHO’s standards and China’s standards in assessing children’s nutritional status except for stunting and obesity. The prevalence of underweight assessed using China’s standards was higher than when using the WHO’s standards (except when 3 and 36 months old). The prevalence of wasting was significantly higher when assessed using China’s standards than when using the WHO’s standards from 12 to 36 months. The prevalence of overweight was higher when assessed using the WHO’s standards from 3 to 8 months. Conclusions: Both the WHO’s and China’s growth standards are useful measures in assessing children’s nutritional status but with key significant differences. Therefore, caution should be taken in selecting appropriate measures in a given population.