This comparative survey is based on two populations of children born and raised in Paris or the Paris area: 320 French children and 129 children whose parents are both of African ancestry from the Subsaharan area. They are part of a first generation born outside of their respective countries. A longitudinal study of growth from birth to four years of age shows population differences. The length and weight at birth of full-term African babies are significantly less than of French newborns. But, African infants catch-up quickly and reach the same length as French infants during the first month of life; their weight is already significantly greater than that of French infants from 1 to 6 months. The body mass index (BMI, W/H2) during the breast-feeding period indicates that the infants are of well nourished status. After the first year of life, the means for the BMI of the children born to Subsaharan immigrant parents are lower than means for French children. This suggests poorer nutritional status, which may be associated with the marginal socioeconomic status of African families living in the Paris area. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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