THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STATURE, GROWTH, AND SHORT-TERM CHANGES IN HEIGHT AND WEIGHT IN NORMAL PREPUBERTAL CHILDREN

Human growth is a nonlinear process with marked variation in growth ra te during the short-term. It is not known how long-term height gain or stature is influenced by short-term changes in height and weight. Thi s study has addressed these issues by using thrice weekly height and w eight measurements during 1 year in 43 normal prepubertal children (ag ed 5.7-7.7 y) to construct individual height and weight velocity curve s by regression analysis. The former were comprised of 3 to 6 growth s purts separated by stasis, whereas the latter were characterized by 2 to 5 periods of weight gain separated by periods of weight loss. Stepw ise repression analysis to determine characteristics of these curves t hat influence stature and growth showed that height SD score was corre lated to the mean absolute weight velocity amplitude (+), the mean len gth of height velocity peaks (-), and the number of periods of weight gain (-) (r(2) = 38%). In contrast, change in height SD score (Delta h eight SD score) was correlated to the number (+) and mean amplitude () of the periods of weight gain and the mean height velocity peak ampl itude (+) (r(2) = 44%). Examination of changes in height relative to w eight during the year in the whole group revealed that height increase d relative to weight in autumn and spring, whereas the reverse occurre d during the winter months. We conclude that 1) both height and weight velocities during 1 year show a biphasic pattern, 2) there is seasona l variation in the short-term change in height relative to weight, and 3) prepubertal stature and the amount grown through the year are rela ted to short-term changes in height and weight, Our data indicate that large but infrequent changes in weight with growth spurts of short du ration are found in tall children. Good growth during the year was rel ated to large but frequent gains in weight and large individual spurts in height.