Growth Centile Assessment for 14-Year-Old Girl
For a 14-year-old girl with height 174.40 cm and weight 74.60 kg, the height is approximately at the 95th centile (indicating tall stature) while the weight is significantly above the 95th centile, resulting in a BMI of approximately 24.6 kg/m², which places her in the overweight category according to UK WHO growth charts.
Height Assessment
- Height of 174.40 cm at age 14 years is at or above the 95th centile, indicating this girl is taller than approximately 95% of her peers 1
- This represents tall stature for age, though not necessarily pathological if consistent with parental heights and previous growth trajectory 2
- The UK WHO growth charts for children aged 2-20 years should be used for this age group, as WHO standards only extend to 59 months 3
Weight Assessment
- Weight of 74.60 kg is substantially above the 95th centile for a 14-year-old girl 1
- For reference, approximately 65-70 kg represents the 95th centile for a 13-year-old girl, and this patient exceeds that threshold at age 14 1
- The weight is disproportionately high relative to height centile, indicating excess weight gain 1
BMI Calculation and Interpretation
- BMI = 74.60 kg ÷ (1.744 m)² = 24.6 kg/m²
- This BMI is above the 85th centile but likely below the 95th centile for age, placing her in the overweight category (between 85th-95th centile) 1
- The discrepancy between height centile (95th) and weight centile (>95th) indicates disproportionate weight accumulation 1
Clinical Significance and Management Considerations
Key Clinical Points:
- The prevalence of overweight in 14-year-old girls is approximately 16-17%, making this a common but significant health concern 4
- Adolescent obesity persists into adulthood in approximately 60% of cases, emphasizing the importance of early intervention 5
Risk Factors to Address:
- Sedentary activities exceeding 4 hours per day predict BMI increase from adolescence to adulthood 5
- Consumption of takeaway meals twice or more weekly and two or more carbonated drinks daily are associated with weight gain 5
- History of yo-yo dieting paradoxically predicts BMI increase 5
Protective Factors:
- Regular sport participation and higher physical activity levels predict BMI loss 5
- Creating a home environment with nutritious foods rather than unhealthful options 6
- Good sleep hygiene and stress reduction strategies 6
Monitoring Recommendations
- Serial measurements plotted over time are essential to assess growth velocity and trajectory, which are more valuable than single measurements 7
- Growth should be monitored every 6-12 months to track BMI trends 7
- Consider parental heights when interpreting growth patterns to account for genetic potential 7, 2