A UC Davis nutritionist who specializes in the health of mothers and children is part of a global research team working to develop better growth charts to monitor the health and development of young children. Kathryn Dewey, a UC Davis nutrition professor, is directing the only United States research site for a worldwide research project, coordinated by the World Health Organization, to revise growth charts for children under the age of 5 years. Previous research by Dewey and other nutritionists suggests that current growth charts, used to gauge whether children are growing appropriately, don't accurately reflect the growth patterns of breast-fed children. Dewey's team is collecting data on the growth of some 700 children in the Davis area, which will be used in revising the World Health Organization growth charts. "At certain ages, breast-fed babies tend to grow more slowly than do formula-fed children," said Dewey. "The concern is that health professionals might mistake this slower growth for a failure to thrive and recommend that the mother switch to formula." Research has shown that breast milk is effective in warding off illnesses such as ear infections and diarrhea, and helps boost mental development. Dewey has been researching maternal and infant nutrition for more than 15 years. Her work includes studies on infant growth and nutrition, the impact of nutrition and exercise on nursing moms, breastfeeding and post-childbirth weight loss in mothers, and growth problems in infants and children in developing countries.