WHO Growth Standards: How global growth curves transformed assessment and policy

In this episode of Milestones in Pediatric Nutrition, Professor Andrew Prentice interviews Dr. Mercedes de Onis, the principal architect of the WHO Child Growth Standards now used in over 150 countries worldwide. Dr. de Onis discusses the limitations of earlier growth references, particularly the NCHS curves, which were based primarily on U.S. populations and often suggested growth faltering in breastfed infants. She describes the landmark WHO Multicentre Growth Study, conducted between 1997 and 2003 across six countries, which established prescriptive standards based on optimal growth conditions, including exclusive breastfeeding and supportive environments. Launched in 2006, the WHO Child Growth Standards introduced key metrics including BMI-for-age and velocity standards, supporting both population-level surveillance and individual clinical monitoring. This conversation highlights the significant scientific effort and international collaboration behind tools that healthcare professionals utilize daily, to guide nutritional care and promote healthy growth in children worldwide.