Expert: David Olson, MD - 1/19/2005

Question
Hi - back again.  Here is the info you requested - I am approx. 5' and my husband is 5'10".  Here is what a pediatrician recently informed us - how can this differ so much from your information?   Please advise as you compare.  Thanks so much:)

"I don't think anything that happened when he was 3 would have any impact on his growth at this time. He is at the 50% level for weight and 95% for height. He is slightly taller than he is heavy, but that is probably the way his father, or maybe his mother, was at this age. He is well within the normal range for both height and weight. Growth hormone is safe but fabulously expensive and tends to be effective only for those who don't have enough, and there is no evidence that your son is deficient. It would be like giving beauty shots to Donald Trumps fiance, or handsome shots to Jude Law; it wouldn't improve the situation. The best adjusted families are those when parents celebrate their children as they are (assuming they are healthy) and not hope for a change. It sounds as though you have something to celebrate.

I am using charts developed by the National Center for Health Statistics that was developed by measuring and weighing thousands of American children in the recent past. These are the charts used by most pediatricians. He is taller than he is heavy but that is not abnormal; it is a body type called asthenic. Unless there is some overwhelming emotional problem, such as a parent lurking over a shoulder expressing dissatisfaction, every child is going to eat all he needs. Children can't always choose the right food but they can be trusted to eat the necessary amount. Parents decide between candy and carrots but not how many carrots. You can tell your husband that anxiety is a most contagious emotion and it is readily transmissable between parent and child. Also there is the aspect that everytime you want a child to do something different from what he considers normal you are expressing dissatisfaction with the child, which is an other common reason for childhood anxiety. I can only say that from the information you gave me you have a normal child whose parents should relax and enjoy him.";



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Followup To
Question -
Hello.  I'm hoping you can help my husband and I with our son, who is now 11 years old.

We recently had him at his well visit and were given his stats. He weights 55 pounds and is 52 1/2". Last year, he was 52.5 lbs. and 51 1/2" tall. How is he on the chart?  

Also - we are concerned that he is not flourishing enough.  He had regular bloodwork done before and it appeared fine.

However, are there any other measures we may take other than watching?  What about growth hormones?  Are they safe?

Please let us know.

Thanks.
Answer -
Hi, Trish,

His weight for age is 1% and height for age is 7%.  This means that 99/100 boys his age weigh more and 93/100 boys his age are taller.  He is indeed quite small.  

The greatest determinant of kids adult heights would be the parents heights.  How tall are you and your husband?  Was your son born at a weight that would be appropriate for his gestation?  Was he small for gestational age?  No serious illnesses?  No persistent diarrhea?  

If you can give me this information, I would be happy to give you an informed answer.  Be sure to send the original question with the additional information.

Good luck and than

k you,  Dr. Olson

Answer
Hi, Trish,

I'm a bit confused.  He is 11 years old, right?  The average 11 year old boy is 57" and 80#.  His projected height using common formulas would be about 5' 7".  

I don't know where the 50% and 95% statistics you quote are coming from.  

Sorry, Dr. Olson