OBJECTIVES:To generate body mass index (weightaheight 2 (kgam 2 ), BMI) reference values for 0 to 45-y-old Danes and compare these with published European reference values. SUBJECTS: A national sample used to generate the current Danish height and weight reference (29 106 measurements made 1965 ± 1977; age 0 ± 21 y; sample I), and four samples from Copenhagen (3391 measurements made 1981 ± 1985; age 7 ± 45 y; samples II ± III and 2608 measurements made 1991 ± 1994; age 6 ± 45 y; samples IV ± V). DATA ANALYSIS: Using the LMS method, Danish BMI reference values by age and sex were constructed from samples I and II. These were compared with BMI reference values from Sweden (age 6 ± 16 (girls) or 6 ± 19 y (boys)), Germany (6 ± 19 y), UK (0 ± 23 y), and France (0 ± 87 y). Two recently examined but smaller Danish cohorts (samples IV and V) were compared with the reference values to assess the secular trend in BMI.

In 91 healthy term infants breast-milk intake was measured at 2, 4, and 9 mo by test weighing and human milk macronutrient content by infrared analysis every 2-4 wk. In infants exclusively breast-fed, mean milk intake was 781 and 855 mL/24 h at 2 and 4 mo, respectively, and correlated positively with the current weight of the infant and negatively with the amount of formula supplement given at the maternity ward. Median daily energy intake was considerably below current recommendations (423 and 381 kJ/kg body wt at 2 and 4 mo, respectively). Protein concentration in the milk was approximately 8% higher in primipara. Median daily protein intake was 1.3 and 1.0 g/kg body wt at 2 and 4 mo, respectively. Median fat concentration was 39.2 g/L and was positively associated with pregnancy weight gain. This supports the hypothesis that maternal fat stores laid down during pregnancy are easier to mobilize during lactation than are other fat stores and, if low, may limit milk fat when exhausted.