Growth in childhood

Question 1

what are centile charts used for

Answer 1

used to check that growth patterns are normal by looking at a range of
heights.

Question 2

what are centile charts based on, what are the axis

Answer 2

based on surveys of large numbers of children with age (x axis)
plotted against height (y axis).

Question 3

what percentage of children will be shorter than the will be shorter than the 50 th centile

Answer 3

50%

Question 4

are centile charts a normal range

Answer 4

not a normal range, they are just

a way of looking at where height is compared to others.

Question 5

in way do centile charts measure height

Answer 5

cumulative height- how tall the child is now (total growth from
conception to now)

Question 6

what is height velocity

Answer 6

how fast a child is growing in cm per year, usually

calculated over a whole year.

Question 7

what could give innacurate height reading

Answer 7

The equipment should be accurate and maintained properly

Position the child properly to get an accurate height (read the instructions on the growth chart)

Make sure you get rid of things which interfere with measuring- shoes off, hair out of the way, clothes off to weigh

Question 8

what can position on a centile chart be affected by

Answer 8

events

before birth, medical issues in childhood, genetic factors and randomness.

Question 9

in normal growth what should happen to the childs centile

Answer 9

will move to a centile position by 2 to 3 years of a

Normal children grow fast enough to keep on the same centile and movement up or down is
unusual

Question 10

when is the fastest phase of growth after birth

Answer 10

In the first 2 years of life. Children can move up and down through the centiles at this phase of growth.

Question 11

when is there another fast growth phase

Answer 11

pubertal growth spurt

The skeleton matures as the child grows, the epiphyses fuse at the end of puberty, and growth stops.

Question 12

If a child grows slower than normal over a significant period what will happen to their centile

Answer 12

they will fall in their centile

position which is ABNORMAL.

Question 13

name some causes of centile drop

Answer 13

poor nutrition, chronic disease, endocrine
causes (GH deficiency, thyroid hormone deficiency), genetic disorders affecting bone growth
(achondroplasia, turner’s syndrome, down syndrome), psychological distress and neglect.

Question 14

what could cause tall stature

Answer 14

syndromes of overgrowth such as

Marfan/ Soto syndrome or GH excess from pituitary tumour.

Question 15

what is the most important hormonal factor in growth

Answer 15

Growth hormone (GH)

Question 16

how is GH secretion controlled

Answer 16

Secretion is
controlled by the hypothalamus-

stimulated by GHRH

Question 17

what is GH inhibited by

Answer 17

somatostatin.

Question 18

what are the effects of GH

Answer 18

some growth effect itself and stimulates the release of IGF1.

Question 19

what does IGF1 do

Answer 19

IGF1 stimulates growth in all the tissues of the of the body.

Question 20

define overweight for adults

Answer 20

BMI >25kg/m2

Question 21

define obese for adults

Answer 21

BMI >30kg/m2

Question 22

how is obesity assessed in children

Answer 22

on the BMI centile position

Question 23

why does obesity occur

Answer 23

occurs due to the balance between energy taken in as food VS energy expenditure

Question 24

what gene mutation can affect obesity

Answer 24

small number of individuals with a single gene mutation affecting leptin

which
causes excessive appetite and can lead to severe obesity.

Question 25

what can make and individual more

likely to eat in a way that makes them gain weight.

Answer 25

There are some gene variants in

the population that can affect eating behaviour and appetite,

Question 26

what are complications of obesity

Answer 26

more likely to get a range of disorders including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, some cancers, orthopaedic problems