Growth Assessment for 8-Year-Old Girl
Calculated Values and Growth Parameters
For this 8-year-old girl with weight 28 kg and height 120.1 cm, the BMI is 19.4 kg/m² (calculated as 28 ÷ 1.201²), which places her at approximately the 75th-85th percentile for BMI, while her height of 120.1 cm falls around the 25th-30th percentile, and her weight of 28 kg is approximately at the 50th percentile according to UK WHO growth standards. 1
BMI Calculation
- BMI = 19.4 kg/m² (Weight in kg ÷ Height in meters squared: 28 ÷ 1.201²) 2
- BMI Centile: Approximately 75th-85th percentile 1
Growth Percentiles
- Height percentile: Approximately 25th-30th percentile (120.1 cm at 8 years) 2, 1
- Weight percentile: Approximately 50th percentile (28 kg at 8 years) 1
Clinical Interpretation
Growth Pattern Analysis
- The UK has adopted WHO growth standards, which should be used for children under 24 months, while CDC growth charts are recommended for children aged 24 months and older, extending through age 19 years 1
- For this 8-year-old, CDC growth charts are the appropriate reference, though UK WHO-adapted charts are acceptable 1
- Her BMI in the 75th-85th percentile range indicates she is in the upper half of normal weight distribution, which is clinically significant as children between the 75th and 84th percentiles of BMI are up to 20 times more likely to become overweight as adults 3
Key Clinical Considerations
- The height at the 25th-30th percentile is within normal range (above the 2.3rd percentile threshold that indicates potential adverse health conditions) 1
- Serial measurements every 3-6 months are recommended to track growth velocity and ensure she maintains a parallel trajectory along her percentile curves 1, 4
- Growth velocity over time is more informative than isolated measurements - consistent percentile tracking is the key indicator of healthy growth 1
Monitoring Recommendations
- Plot all measurements on appropriate CDC/UK WHO growth charts to visualize trends over time, as growth patterns using multiple data points should be used in conjunction with medical and family history to assess appropriate growth 1
- Assess family growth patterns (parental heights) to determine if her height percentile reflects genetic potential 2, 1
- The BMI percentile warrants attention: children in the 75th-85th percentile range should receive guidance on healthy nutrition and physical activity to prevent progression to overweight status 3
Important Caveats
- Values of 2 standard deviations below the median (2.3rd percentile) are the threshold for identifying children whose growth might indicate adverse health conditions 1
- This child's measurements are all above this threshold, indicating normal constitutional growth 1
- However, the relatively higher BMI percentile compared to height percentile suggests she is gaining weight more rapidly than height, which requires monitoring 1, 3