目前台灣地區使用的兒童生長曲線圖是根據1982年調查的數值所繪，近年來兒童及青少年的快速生長，已使愈多的專業人員認為已不合目前所需：衛生署與教育部分別1997年委託學術界，對全台灣地區兒童與青少年進行體位測量。本研究併用這二篇新的調查數值繪出0至18歲身高與體重之生長曲線圖，供臨床使用。本次生長曲線圖與15年前及32年前比較，發現身高體重仍持續增加，出生至6歲之體位和美國與世界衛生組織的標準已大致相同，但6歲以後則仍有差異，值得注意的是6至15歲男生之體重中位值，不但呈不相稱的快速增加，甚而已超越美國與世界衛生組織的標準。本次改訂的生長曲線圖，應可提供醫療保健人員可靠而及時的參考標準，不過正確的測量體位、適當的記錄、標示及判讀是使用此生長曲線圖重要的步驟。依本次調查之身高及體重中位值，重新改訂的重高常數也一併列出，供計算重高指數及篩檢小兒肥胖使用。
The reference charts of weight and height currently used in Taiwan were published in 1982. In recent years, there has been an increasing concern that they may not adequately describe the growth of Taiwanese children. Revised growth charts are now available, and they are based on the combined data from two sources: the Ministry of Education and the Department of Health. These data were collected from children at birth to 6 years old and from children and adolescents 7 to 18 years old, using two island-wide crosssectional surveys in 1997. Comparing the revised charts with two previous charts from 15 and 32 years ago, respectively, we found that the physical growth of children in Taiwan has increased. The growth patterns from birth to 6 years were almost identical to those of the NCHS/WHO standards. Some differences exist, however, for the children and adolescents from 7 to 18 years old. It is notable that the median weight of 7 to 15 years old males now exceeds the NCHS/WHO standards. Although the growth charts give healthcare providers with reliable, up-to-date records for the assessment of physical growth, correct measurements with proper recording, plotting and interpretation should be emphasized for use in community surveys and physicians' practices. The revised weight-for-length constants computed from the median values of weight and height are used for calculating weight-for-length index and screening childhood obesity.
