What is the growth assessment for a 14-year-old female patient with a weight (WT) of 68.5 kg and a height (HT) of 169 cm based on the World Health Organization (WHO) UK growth chart standards?

Medical Advisory BoardAll articles are reviewed for accuracy by our Medical Advisory Board
Educational purpose only • Exercise caution as content is pending human review
Article Review Status
Submitted
Under Review
Approved

Last updated: January 20, 2026 • View editorial policy

Personalize

Help us tailor your experience

Which best describes you? Your choice helps us use language that's most understandable for you.

Growth Assessment for 14-Year-Old Girl: Weight 68.5 kg, Height 169 cm

This 14-year-old girl has a BMI of 24.0 kg/m² (calculated as 68.5 ÷ 1.69²), which places her above the 85th centile but below the 95th centile on WHO UK growth charts, indicating she is overweight but not obese. 1, 2

BMI Calculation and Interpretation

  • BMI = 24.0 kg/m² is in the overweight category for a 14-year-old girl 1, 2
  • Her height of 169 cm places her between the 75th-85th centile, indicating above-average height for age 2
  • Her weight of 68.5 kg is approximately at the 85th-90th centile range 1, 2

Clinical Significance

The key concern is that her weight centile (85th-90th) is disproportionately higher than would be expected for her height centile alone, indicating excess adiposity relative to linear growth. 1, 2

  • A BMI between the 85th-95th centiles meets the definition of overweight in adolescents 1
  • Adolescents with BMI between 75th-85th percentiles are up to 20 times more likely to become overweight adults 1
  • Weight status in this range during adolescence strongly predicts adult obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease 1

Recommended Clinical Actions

Immediate lifestyle modification should be initiated now rather than waiting, as overweight patterns established in adolescence are difficult to reverse. 1

  • Family-based interventions are most effective for adolescent weight management 1
  • Focus on dietary changes emphasizing reduced caloric intake and increased physical activity 1
  • Serial measurements every 6-12 months are essential to track BMI trajectory and response to interventions 1, 2

Monitoring Strategy

  • Growth velocity and previous growth trajectory should be reviewed alongside current measurements for comprehensive assessment 2
  • Serial measurements provide more valuable information than single measurements for assessing growth patterns 2, 3
  • The goal is to maintain current weight while allowing continued linear growth to bring BMI into normal range 1

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

  • Do not dismiss overweight status as "just baby fat" that will resolve with puberty—intervention is needed now 1
  • Avoid focusing solely on weight loss; instead, emphasize weight maintenance while height increases 1
  • Do not delay intervention until obesity (>95th centile) develops, as prevention is more effective than treatment 1, 4

References

1
Guideline

Weight Centile Assessment in Adolescents

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2025

2
Guideline

Growth Assessment for Adolescents

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2025

3
Guideline

Growth Centile Assessment for Children

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2025

Related Questions

What is the classification of a 9-year-old boy at the 99th percentile for body mass index (BMI)?
What tests should be run for a 10-year-old who is overweight according to American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines?
What is the recommended dose of amoxicillin (amoxicillin) for a 9-year-old female pediatric patient weighing 80.8 pounds who can take pills?
What anticipatory guidance is recommended for a 6-year-old female?
How should I manage a 10-year-old female patient presenting with loss of appetite?
What are GLP-1 (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1) receptor agonists, such as liraglutide (Victoza) or semaglutide (Ozempic), used for in the management of type 2 diabetes?
What is the approach to managing a patient with decreased Triiodothyronine (T3) and Thyroxine (T4) levels but normal Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) levels?
What is the management plan for a patient with a normal thyroid profile and a fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) showing Hashimoto thyroiditis?
Should healthcare providers push patients with underlying medical conditions, such as neurological disorders, musculoskeletal issues, or cardiovascular disease, in wheelchairs in an outpatient clinic?
What are the differential diagnoses for a patient with a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) showing sinus rhythm with a borderline short PR interval, rSr′ pattern in lead V1, and mild ST-segment depressions in inferior leads, in the absence of prior ECG for comparison?
What percentile is a 14-year-old girl's height of 169 cm on the WHO UK growth charts?

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

Have a follow-up question?

Our Medical A.I. is used by practicing medical doctors at top research institutions around the world. Ask any follow up question and get world-class guideline-backed answers instantly.

Ask Question