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Children tend to follow a constant genetically determined percentile curve on the growth table. The growth takes place at a speed of around 2½ inches per year until early adolescence when young people reach a maximum growth speed of around 4 inches per year. The growth thrust begins at around nine to ten years in girls and reaches its peak at around 11½ to 12 years. The maximum growth speed typically occurs about 18 months before the first menstrual period; At the time of the first period, a woman is within 1 to 2 inches of adult size. The male growth thrust generally begins at 11 and reaches its climax by 13½ years, although growth in most men continues far into the late adolescence.
Many environmental factors influence whether a child reaches full genetic growth potential. For example, athletes who intensively train or limit or limit calories for more than 18 hours a week can have a negative impact on growth potential, as well as young people who show a low weight gain before the highest growth speed, and overweight children who go through the effects of overweight due to early puberty.
Measured size and weight parameters can be used to calculate the body mass index (BMI) of a child. BMI areas are defined in adults: more than 25 are considered overweight and over 30 as "obese". Children grow constantly and experience relapses in certain ages. For this reason, the BMI is shown in an age and gender growth table.A BMI below 10 percent is considered underweight, 10 to 84 percent as normal weight, 85 to 94 percent as overweight and> 95 percent as "obese".Even if a child is assumed to have a normal BMI, a rapid change in trajectory across percentile lines can trigger further investigation into the cause of the change.
A low BMI in children can be caused by genetic factors and a low predisposition. It can also be caused by a deliberate restriction of calories by the child in response to perceived weight gain or accidentally, as with very active children who do not eat enough to meet the physical requirements.
The BMI perfentil standards are based on the distribution of the children in 1976 when only 15 percent of the children exceeded the 85th percentile. In the meantime, more than 1/3 of the children are classified as overweight or obese. Above all due to poor eating habits and low physical activity, overweight children can suffer from a variety of complications, including asthma, sleep apnea, infertility in girls, gallstones, liver dysfunction and broken bones.
Additional resources
American Council on Exercise
Children's health
Medline Plus
Centers for the control and prevention of diseases