Importance of Growth for Health and Development

Growth is universally used by health care professionals and caregivers to judge the physical condition of babies and children: poor growth in early life has a negative impact on cognitive development and morbidity, whereas rapid and excessive growth is associated with a higher prevalence of obesity and cardiovascular disease. This publication explores in some detail the relationship between early growth patterns and later neurodevelopment, obesity, cardiovascular outcomes and longevity in both i