Is there any accurate way of predicting what a child's height will be when they're fully grown? - Chris
The most widely used and accurate means of predicting adult height is the Khamis-Roche method, published in the journal Pediatrics in 1994. Using data from a long-term study, they found the
variables which mattered most, then applied them to 400-plus healthy white children in Ohio, US.
The elements that were essential were the child's current stature, gender and the parents' heights. Using just these inputs, the formula was 95 per cent accurate to within 3.8cm.
It may seem obvious that tall kids with tall parents will usually grow up to be tall, but what's nice about this formula is that it gives parents a number.
Of course ethnicity, health, and nutritional status would obviously affect the accuracy of the prediction, but for most purposes the Khamis-Roche method will give us a close enough estimate.
As with all studies, the results won't necessarily apply to one individual. Your child may be a netball star despite what the formula predicts. There are always exceptions. But in most cases, Khamis-Roche will give you an answer that's accurate enough to know whether you should pre-pay those netball lessons. \
For a link to a pediatric height calculator, visit http://askdrgary.blogspot.com
Gary Payinda MD is an emergency medicine consultant in Whangarei.
Have a science, health topic or question you'd like addressed? Email: drpayinda@gmail.com
(This column provides general information and is not a substitute for the medical advice of your personal doctor.)
