Abstract
Increasing prevalence of obesity is one of the reasons why more attention is currently paid to the physical growth and nutrition of individuals in increasingly younger age groups. An essential condition for correct assessment of child growth is the use of adequate reference data (growth charts), especially in the youngest age categories.
In 2006 World Health Organization (WHO) published new growth standards for children up to 5 years of age. They were developed on the basis of results of an extensive international study (Multicentre Growth Reference Study, MGRS).
Based on awareness of an immense importance of breastfeeding for children health and development and for prevention of childhood obesity, WHO determined growth of a breastfed children as a norm (WHO recommendation: 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding and continued breastfeeding with complementary feeding up to 2 years). WHO now recommends implementation of these standards at national level, stressing among others, their use for early detection and prevention of obesity