Growth Centile Assessment for 11-Year-Old Girl
An 11-year-old girl with height 148 cm and weight 36.25 kg falls approximately at the 50th-75th centile for both height and weight according to UK WHO growth standards, indicating normal, proportionate growth. 1, 2
Height Assessment
- Height of 148 cm places this child between the 50th and 75th centiles for 11-year-old girls on UK WHO growth charts, which is within the normal range for her age. 1, 2
- The mean height for girls at age 11 years is approximately 145-148 cm at the 50th centile, confirming her height is age-appropriate. 1, 2
- This height measurement indicates she is tracking along a healthy growth trajectory without evidence of short stature (which would be <3rd centile or <-2 SD). 1
Weight Assessment
- Weight of 36.25 kg falls between the 50th and 75th centiles for her age, indicating appropriate weight for an 11-year-old girl. 2
- The normal weight range at the 50th centile for this age is approximately 35-40 kg, placing her weight in the healthy range. 2
- Her weight is proportionate to her height, suggesting balanced growth without evidence of underweight or overweight status. 2
Body Mass Index (BMI) Evaluation
- Calculated BMI: 36.25 kg ÷ (1.48 m)² = 16.6 kg/m², which falls within the normal range for an 11-year-old girl. 2, 3
- This BMI indicates appropriate weight-for-height without evidence of obesity or undernutrition. 3
- The combination of both height and weight tracking between the 50th-75th centiles confirms proportionate, healthy growth. 2
Clinical Interpretation and Monitoring Recommendations
- Both measurements falling in the same centile range (50th-75th) indicates harmonious growth without disproportionate weight gain or growth faltering. 2
- Serial measurements every 4-6 months are more valuable than single assessments for evaluating growth velocity, which should be approximately 4-7 cm per year at this age. 1, 4
- At age 11, girls are approaching or entering puberty, with peak height velocity typically occurring around 11.5 years at approximately 8.3 cm/year. 1
- Parental heights should be considered to calculate target height using the Tanner formula: (mother's height + father's height - 13 cm) ÷ 2, which helps determine if the child is tracking appropriately toward her genetic potential. 4
Important Clinical Considerations
- Growth centile crossing is normal during the first 3 years of life as children establish their genetic growth curve, but downward crossing of several centile lines after age 3 warrants investigation for pathological causes. 1, 4
- Continue plotting measurements on UK WHO growth charts to visualize growth patterns over time and ensure maintenance of appropriate trajectory. 1, 2
- No intervention is indicated for this child as both height and weight are tracking normally within healthy centile ranges. 2