Weight for length measures may not accurately reflect adiposity in preterm infants born appropriate for gestational age during hospitalisation or after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit.

W/L indices were not good indicators of adiposity in preterm infants from 28 to 63 weeks' PMA (born AGA) with all categories of W/L indices combined. Future research should examine whether results are similar in preterm infants born with disproportionate W/L or who experience disproportionate growth postnatally.