Increase Height

Height is very hereditary. High parents' children are often at the upper end, and perhaps beyond normal limits. Similarly, young parents, often young children. A late growth pattern with late onset of puberty may also be hereditary.

Growth can not be assessed on an individual's height and weight measurement. It is therefore important to make several measurements over time. The measurements are plotted on a growth curve of normal values.

Very premature babies followed with close attention and length measurements. Growth curves must adjust for the number of weeks the child was born prematurely. This correction is seen to gradually away from the 2 years of age.

How to detect a growth disorder?
Make sure your child gets measured and weighed by your doctor and health visitor at the agreed checks and if you suspect that something is wrong.
If your child is above or below normal growth curves, assessed parents' height and the tendency of the growth curve compared to previous measurements. It may be a sign of illness if your child is well below or above normal, or if your child has begun to deviate from the growth line, he / she has previously followed increase or decrease in the growth curve.
* Height above or below normal limits on the height curve. This may be hereditary, but a growing disease should be excluded.
* Decrease in the height curve. This can be seen as a normal phenomenon around 1 year of age and in children who come a little late in puberty. Decrease in the height curve should lead to a medical assessment.
* Increase the height curve. This can be seen when a chronically ill child has recovered. It is also seen in the onset of puberty in girls and in the middle of puberty in boys. Increase of height curve can in all other situations, be a sign of disease and should lead to a medical assessment.
* Weight below or above normal limits on the weight curve. This may be hereditary, but a disease should be excluded. Overweight or obesity is often too little exercise and too many calories.
* Decrease in the weight curve. Many children fall on weight curve during 1 year of age due to diet change and increased physical activity. This may be normal. An accidental drop of weight curve may be perceived as poor welfare and should also lead to further studies of chronic diseases. A natural weight loss should also lead to a medical examination if it is transient after brief illness or due to an understandable desire to be slimmer.
* Increase the weight curve. This may be intentional in underweight children, but may be more common because of too little exercise and too many calories. Weight should always be assessed in conjunction with height (BMI). A rare combined increase of weight curve and the decrease of height curve should lead to more thorough medical examination on suspected endocrine disease.