This paper presents recommendations for the analysis and presentation of height and weight data from surveillance or surveys involving nutrition and anthropometry in young children up to the age of 10 years. These recommendations are only for the analysis of data collected on a cross-sectional basis. The basic indices recommended are height for age and weight for height, each considered either in terms of centiles or in a cross-classification scheme using standard deviation scores. It is hoped that these methods of analysis and presentation will prove widely acceptable, so that international comparisons will be made easier.