Aims: To compare the values of weight, height and IMC with the regional curve (Cariri); to compare with the international references of the CDC-2000; and to construct references that will measure physical growth from childhood to adolescence.
Subjects and methods: The sample consists of 6531 individuals with an age range of 6.0-17.9 years. Comparisons (weight, height and BMI) between the means of the group were made with the regional reference Cariri and the international reference CDC-2000.
Results: The students of both sexes from Campinas were taller, heavier and presented more IMC than those from Cariri. With respect to CDC-2000, the girls were heavier until 12 years old and the boys were heavier until 15 years old. For height, the students of both sexes from Campinas were taller until age 10. In IMC, the students from Campinas showed superior qualities in relation to the reference in both sexes (for girls until age 14 and boys until 16 years old).
Conclusion: Patterns of physical growth of children in Campinas are different in relation to the regional and international reference curve. The regional standards proposed are a possibility to assess the trajectory of physical growth of school children of Campinas in clinical or epidemiological settings.
Keywords: Adolescents; children; growth; references.