WHO and CDC growth charts, with z-scores and nutritional status

The WHO 2006 and CDC 2000 growth curves, z-scores calculated from the LMS tables, and how to read a child's nutritional status from weight-for-age, length/height-for-age, weight-for-length/height, BMI-for-age and head circumference.

Nutritional status table per indicator How to read the chart

Not just a dot
on paper.

Every weigh-in goes straight onto the official growth curves, with its z-score and a reading of nutritional status. You know what it means without waiting for the next posyandu visit.

z-score: Calculated automatically from the LMS tables, with the nutritional status.
WHO and CDC: Two standards, switchable at any time on the same screen.
Genetic height potential: Estimated from both parents' heights and marked on the curve.

What is a z-score?

A growth chart compares your child's measurements with thousands of healthy children of the same age. The lines on the WHO curves are z-scores: line 0 is the median, +2 and -2 mark the range still considered normal, and -3 or +3 mark values that need special attention.

Reading the growth chart: weight, length and head circumference for age

WHO 2006 curves: Weight, length and head circumference
CDC 2000 curves: The second choice above age 2
LMS tables: z-scores are calculated from the official LMS tables carried inside the app, and the results are tested against the SD columns WHO publishes itself.

Nutritional status per indicator

The bands the app uses to read every measurement, following Indonesia's Permenkes 2/2020. The ranges are in z-score units (SD).

Weight-for-age

BB/U in Indonesian charts. Is the weight adequate for the age?

Weight-for-age nutritional status by z-score range
z-score range	Status	What it means
below -3	Severely Underweight Your child's weight is severely low for their age. Schedule a visit to a paediatrician or the nearest health facility promptly for assessment and care.
-3 to below -2	Underweight Your child's weight is low for their age. Watch their food intake and re-measure every month. Schedule a visit to a paediatrician or the nearest health facility for further assessment.
-2 to below +1	Normal Your child's weight is appropriate for their age. Keep measuring weight regularly.
+1 and above	Risk of Overweight Your child is at risk of overweight for their age. Weight-for-age cannot tell a heavy child from a tall one, so check the weight-for-height and BMI-for-age charts to be sure. Watch their eating pattern and activity, and keep measuring weight regularly.

Length/height-for-age

PB/U or TB/U in Indonesian charts. Is the child growing in length as expected?

Length/height-for-age nutritional status by z-score range
z-score range	Status	What it means
below -3	Severely Stunted Your child's height is severely low for their age. Schedule a visit to a paediatrician or the nearest health facility promptly for assessment and care.
-3 to below -2	Stunted Your child's height is low for their age. Watch their nutrition and re-measure every month. Schedule a visit to a paediatrician or the nearest health facility for further assessment.
-2 to below +3	Normal Your child's height is appropriate for their age. Keep measuring height regularly.
+3 and above	Tall Your child's height is above the range for their age. This is usually not a concern, but schedule a visit to a paediatrician if there are other symptoms.

Weight-for-length/height

BB/PB or BB/TB in Indonesian charts. The most sensitive short-term nutrition indicator.

Weight-for-length/height nutritional status by z-score range
z-score range	Status	What it means
below -3	Severely Wasted Your child's weight is severely low for their height (severely wasted). Schedule a visit to a paediatrician or the nearest health facility promptly for assessment and care.
-3 to below -2	Wasted Your child's weight is low for their height. Watch their food intake and re-measure every month. Schedule a visit to a paediatrician or the nearest health facility for further assessment.
-2 to below +1	Normal Your child's weight is appropriate for their height. Keep measuring weight and height regularly.
+1 to below +2	Risk of Overweight Your child is at risk of overweight for their height. Watch their eating pattern and activity, and keep measuring weight regularly.
+2 to below +3	Overweight Your child is classed as overweight for their height. Schedule a visit to a paediatrician or the nearest health facility for assessment and care.
+3 and above	Obese Your child is classed as obese for their height. Schedule a visit to a paediatrician or the nearest health facility for assessment and care.

BMI-for-age, 0-5 years

IMT/U in Indonesian charts. Nutritional status by BMI.

BMI-for-age, 0-5 years nutritional status by z-score range
z-score range	Status	What it means
below -3	Severely Wasted Your child's weight is severely low based on BMI (severely wasted). Schedule a visit to a paediatrician or the nearest health facility promptly for assessment and care.
-3 to below -2	Wasted Your child's weight is low based on BMI. Watch their food intake and re-measure every month. Schedule a visit to a paediatrician or the nearest health facility for further assessment.
-2 to below +1	Normal Your child's weight is appropriate based on BMI. Keep measuring weight and height regularly.
+1 to below +2	Risk of Overweight Your child is at risk of overweight based on BMI. Watch their eating pattern and activity, and keep measuring weight regularly.
+2 to below +3	Overweight Your child is classed as overweight based on BMI. Schedule a visit to a paediatrician or the nearest health facility for assessment and care.
+3 and above	Obese Your child is classed as obese based on BMI. Schedule a visit to a paediatrician or the nearest health facility for assessment and care.

BMI-for-age, 5-18 years

IMT/U in Indonesian charts. Above 5 years, this is the chart used to see a child's nutritional status.

BMI-for-age, 5-18 years nutritional status by z-score range
z-score range	Status	What it means
below -3	Severely Wasted Your child is classed as severely thin based on BMI. Schedule a visit to a paediatrician or the nearest health facility promptly for assessment and care.
-3 to below -2	Wasted Your child is classed as thin based on BMI. Watch their food intake and re-measure weight and height every month. Schedule a visit to a paediatrician or the nearest health facility for further assessment.
-2 to below +1	Normal Your child's nutritional status is normal based on BMI. Keep measuring weight and height regularly.
+1 to below +2	Overweight Your child is classed as overweight based on BMI. Schedule a visit to a paediatrician or the nearest health facility for assessment and care.
+2 and above	Obese Your child is classed as obese based on BMI. Schedule a visit to a paediatrician or the nearest health facility for assessment and care.

Head-circumference-for-age

LK/U in Indonesian charts. Tracks brain growth over the first two years.

Head-circumference-for-age nutritional status by z-score range
z-score range	Status	What it means
below -2	Microcephaly Your child's head circumference is below the normal range for their age. Schedule a visit to a paediatrician or the nearest health facility for further assessment.
-2 to below +2	Normal Your child's head circumference is appropriate for their age. Keep measuring it every month.
+2 and above	Macrocephaly Your child's head circumference is above the normal range for their age. Schedule a visit to a paediatrician or the nearest health facility for further assessment.