Growth Centile Assessment for 13-Year-Old Girl
For a 13-year-old girl with weight 52.2 kg and height 162.5 cm, the height falls between the 50th and 75th centile (indicating normal height for age), while calculating BMI (52.2 ÷ 1.625² = 19.8 kg/m²) reveals a normal, healthy weight-for-height ratio on UK WHO growth charts. 1
Height Assessment
- A height of 162.5 cm at age 13 years places this girl between the 50th and 75th centile, indicating she is taller than average for her age group 1
- This height measurement suggests normal linear growth progression without evidence of growth restriction or excessive acceleration 1
Weight Assessment
- The weight of 52.2 kg at age 13 years is appropriate and proportional to her height, falling within the normal range for girls of this age 2
- Notably, research demonstrates that 52.2 kg represents the mean weight at menarche for girls with normal pubertal progression, further supporting that this weight is physiologically appropriate for a 13-year-old 2
- This weight is substantially below concerning thresholds—the 95th centile for 13-year-old girls is approximately 65-70 kg 1
BMI Calculation and Interpretation
- BMI = 52.2 kg ÷ (1.625 m)² = 19.8 kg/m², which falls comfortably within the normal range (between the 15th and 85th centiles) for a 13-year-old girl 1
- This BMI indicates appropriate weight-for-height without evidence of underweight or overweight status 3
- The proportional relationship between height and weight centiles (both in healthy ranges) suggests balanced, harmonious growth 3
Clinical Interpretation
- The combination of both height and weight measurements falling in healthy centile ranges indicates optimal growth trajectory 3
- UK WHO growth charts should be used for this age group, as they extend through age 20 years and are the recommended standard 1
- Growth velocity and serial measurements over time provide more valuable clinical information than isolated measurements for comprehensive growth assessment 1, 3
Monitoring Recommendations
- Continue regular growth monitoring every 6-12 months to ensure maintenance of appropriate growth trajectory 3
- Plot measurements on growth charts to visualize the growth pattern over time and detect any deviations from expected trajectory 3
- Consider parental heights when interpreting growth charts to account for genetic growth potential 3