Birth is not only a happy event, but also actively discussed. Relatives and close friends almost certainly think about meeting the child’s weight and height standards. So, the normal weight of newborns lies in the range of 2.6-4 kg, as for height, these are marks from 45 to 55 cm. And if it is enough for the family to be confident in the normality of these indicators, their ratio is important for doctors. It is determined by the Quetelet index.

Quetelet's formula is simple: height divided by weight. The resulting figure is the desired ratio. For example, let's take the most common indicators - weight 3.5 kg and height 52 cm. By the way, to divide mass it is usually converted into grams. In our case, the figure is 66, and a healthy index is considered to be between 60 and 70.

However, there is a nuance here - the Quetelet index is applicable exclusively to babies born at term. In premature infants, the ratio is also measurable, but with different indicators. In addition, each stage of development has its own factors that influence the relationship between a child’s height and weight. Therefore, it makes sense to consider each of the stages of growing up from this angle separately.

Height-to-weight ratio in children under one year of age

Young parents should know that in the first few days after birth, children lose about 8% of their original weight. This is fine. As a rule, 7-10 days after weight loss, the child recovers and gets better again. The first year of life is a period of constant changes in height and weight, they occur monthly. Thanks to this, doctors can understand whether the baby is developing and eating properly.

On average, in the first 6 months, babies gain about 700, sometimes 750 grams every month. Starting from the 7th month, the rate decreases, and over the next six months, children gain 350-500 grams every month. This is explained by this motor activity, which begins to noticeably manifest itself just after six months of life. If we consider a year of life in general, then by the end of it children weigh three times more than at birth. As a rule, the weight is from 8 to 12 kg. Growth is increasing no less rapidly. By the first birthday it increases by approximately 25 cm - to 70-79 cm.

The rate of height and weight gain depends on many factors. Sometimes indicators grow uncertainly. This can be explained by the following reasons:

• Transmission of infectious diseases.
• Prolonged diarrhea.
• Allergies of various types.

Lack of normal nutrition (artificial feeding, like mixed feeding, does not contribute to completely healthy development processes).

Only a pediatrician can determine the exact cause of the problem after diagnosis. Based on the conclusions drawn, he will also give recommendations on nutrition and other nuances.

Height-to-weight ratio of preschool children

Once your baby reaches one year of age, there is no need to stop regularly monitoring growth and weight. To monitor changes, it is recommended to purchase a paper stadiometer that is glued to a smooth wall surface. The measurement process itself is carried out adhering to some rules:

• Shoes, even those with minimally thick soles, can be removed.
• The shoulder blades straighten, and the buttocks and heels touch the wall.
• A ruler is applied to the height meter (at a right angle), after which the height is recorded.

Compliance with normal indicators is checked using special tables. Checking your weight is even easier - just buy an electronic scale. By the way, if the baby is still unsteady on his feet, it is better to put him on the scales. To ensure the most accurate results, you should weigh yourself on an empty stomach and after using the toilet.

When a child reaches 3 years old, he gains approximately 2 kg every year. Thus, compared to the first days of life, by the age of 7 the weight doubles. The weight norm is calculated using a simple formula: A + 2B. Value A is the child’s weight per year, B is his real age, and number 2 is an indicator of annual weight gain in the period from 3 to 7 years. That is, to calculate a healthy weight, you need to add twice the number of full years to your weight at one year of age. Let’s say that on his first birthday the child weighed 8 kg, and at the moment he is 5 years old, it turns out that normally he should weigh 18 kg (8 + 2x5 = 18).

Height is determined using a similar formula: A+5B. In this case, A is the child’s growth per year, B is the same current age, 5 is the average annual increase in height. For example, at one year old the child’s height was 70 cm, which means that at 4 years old the stadiometer should show 90 cm (70+5x4=90). It is worth paying attention to the fact that the growth process is uneven. There are two stages of child growth:

• The first year of life with an increase in the indicator by about 25 cm.
• The period is from 5 to 7 years, when height increases by only 8-10 cm.

Peculiarities of growth of preschool children

As soon as intense stretching begins, the child should be given as much attention as possible. The parameters change quickly, which is why children often do not have time to get used to them and are faced with their own clumsiness. Of course, growth may not reach the required levels, then its increase should be promoted. Special diets and physical exercises such as hanging on a crossbar or wall bars help with development.

• Eggs.
• Natural cottage cheese.
• Fish.
• Lean meat and liver.
• Carrots and greens.
• Milk based products.

You will also need to introduce slight restrictions, especially on sweets, since glucose interferes with the production of growth hormone. You also need to control your weight. Discrepancies from normal values ​​by 20% or higher are an indication for examination by a pediatrician. Sometimes the problems may lie in nutrition, and in some cases there are disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine system.

Height-to-weight ratio of schoolchildren

The most noticeable changes in height and weight occur during school years. Growth proceeds intensively, but extremely unevenly. In addition, the child’s muscles improve. All this is reflected in indicators of physical development and health. An impressive jump occurs between the ages of 11 and 16. However, in some cases, dramatic changes occur at 13-15 years of age. Basically, the weight-to-height ratio at this stage of growing up is abnormal. However, this is not dangerous and is simply explainable - the muscles simply do not have time to gain the necessary mass. Hence the familiar awkwardness of teenagers. This condition does not require correction by physical activity or diet.

Several factors that should not be forgotten have a strong influence on the growth of children:

• Balanced diet (both quality and quantity of food are important).
• Maintaining a healthy rest and work schedule.
• Availability and regularity of sports activities.
• The influence of ecology and heredity.

In order to keep the entire student in normal condition, sports are a must. If you do not develop muscle mass, the bulk of your weight will come from body fat. In this case, the child will be chubby. Interestingly, during adolescence, parents are still more likely to encounter excessive thinness than overweight. This is due to the inability of the muscular system to “keep up” with the rate of growth increase.

As each child develops, it grows and gains weight. Parents who are concerned about their baby growing “correctly” always pay attention to “normal” indicators of body weight and height, focusing on the average data given in the tables of the World Health Organization. When answering the question of how much a child of a certain age should weigh, it should be taken into account that each person’s body has individual characteristics. That is, in order to understand that everything is fine with the child and he is growing normally, you need not only to compare his parameters with the standard, but also to take into account their relationships.

The ratio of height parameters and body weight of a child

The concept of “body mass index” is well known to many parents - especially mothers who watch their figure. To assess the harmonious development of a child and identify possible deviations in height and weight, you will also need to calculate BMI.

It is important to remember that normal values ​​for a baby differ from similar values ​​calculated for the adult population. The normal BMI of an adult is no more than 25; for children, a similar index can vary between 13-21. BMI is calculated to help diagnose the following conditions:

1. obesity requiring treatment;
2. overweight;
3. slightly increased weight, within the permissible range of normal fluctuations;
4. normal weight (see also:);
5. underweight;
6. exhaustion requiring treatment.

Features of the baby's first year of life

In the first twelve months of a child’s life, indicators of his growth and development are directly related to feeding characteristics. In accordance with WHO guidelines, a breastfed child with a birth weight of 3.3 kg (boy) or 3.2 kg (girl) is taken as a standard for developing the table. According to growth standards, the “starting indicators” are taken to be 49.9 cm and 49.1 cm, respectively.

If the baby was born with less body weight and height (this often occurs in children born prematurely, as well as in those born from short parents), then there is no need to worry that after a month or two he “lags behind” from tabular indicators.

Up to one year of age, the determining factor is not the correspondence of height and weight to the table, but their change over time. If a child is systematically gaining kilograms and growing, then everything is fine with him, and there is no reason to panic.

Girls' height and weight

Height and weight of boys

The characteristics of the weight and height of male children before they reach one year of age are determined according to the same principles as for girls. Monthly weight gain is of decisive importance for monitoring the condition and development of a child - that is, you need to compare the baby first of all with himself, what he was like a month ago.

Indicators of a child under 10 years of age

The period from birth to the age of 10 is characterized by rapid growth of the child. However, if before the age of one year the baby grew noticeably and became “heavier” almost every day, at an older age he will grow a little slower.

This is due to changes in metabolism and the growing activity of the baby: a baby spends much less energy and calories on outdoor games than a toddler who has already learned to walk and run, and is now actively exploring the world around him.

Baby's height and weight at 1 year

If we look at the average values, we can note that during the first year of life the baby gains about 6-7 kilograms. Moreover, most of the “gain” occurs in the first six months of life, when the child gains about 700-800 grams in one month. With proper care, healthy low birth weight babies can “catch up” in weight to their peers born with average body weight by 6-7 months.

The weight of a one-year-old child is considered normal if its value is in the range between 8 and 12 kg. The increase in height will be about 25 cm. The height of a child at 1 year is approximately 75 cm ± 6 cm.

Height and weight from 2 to 3 years

Between two and three years old, the baby is still growing. However, in his daily routine there is less and less quiet rest and meals, and the amount of time devoted to outdoor games is steadily growing. Normally, during the third year of his life, a child will gain about two to three kilograms (that is, he will weigh 11-15 kg) and grow by 9-10 cm.

Height and weight from 4 to 5 years

The average weight of a harmoniously developed 4-year-old child, according to WHO, is about 16 kg, while a deviation of 2-3 kg up or down is considered normal. The height of a child of this age is 102-103 cm. By his fifth birthday, a preschooler will gain about 2 kg and grow by 7 cm.

Height and weight from 6 to 7 years

If you put a healthy six-year-old baby on the scale, and the screen displays a value in the range of 18-23.5 kg, then he fully complies with the standards developed by WHO. By his seventh birthday, an older preschooler (or a junior schoolchild) will become 2-3 kg heavier. According to growth standards, he will grow by about 5 cm.

Summary table with parameters from 1 to 10 years

For those parents who are worried about the development of their baby, it will be useful to familiarize yourself with the summary table of the height and weight of children, compiled according to WHO data. Here are the average height and weight values ​​for children of both sexes aged 1-10 years. The baby’s parameters do not have to correspond exactly to the values ​​​​given in the table - a deviation of 2-3 kg and a few centimeters in any direction is considered a variation of the norm.

It should also be taken into account that girls grow rapidly after 10 and up to 12 years of age, while in boys a jump is observed at an older age - after 13 and up to 16 years. Girls gain height on average up to 19 years, and boys - up to 22 years.

Indicators for children from 11 to 18 years old

Indicators that are considered normal at the age of 11-18 years are distinguished by their wide range. This is the period of the onset of puberty, when global changes occur in the teenager’s body. Parents must prepare their growing son or daughter not only physically, but also emotionally.

It should also be borne in mind that following a diet for weight loss at this time is not recommended - a lack of necessary elements before the 18th birthday can lead to serious problems in the future.

The height and body weight standards for children are presented below.

Factors that influence growth rate and weight gain in children

Growth rate and weight gain depend on a number of factors. First of all, this is, of course, heredity. If the baby’s parents are short and have an asthenic physique, then with a high degree of probability the child’s body weight and height will be similar.

Also, factors affecting weight and height in children include the following:

1. sleep and rest schedule (it is required that the total daily sleep duration corresponds to age);
2. active or passive lifestyle – for active children, weight and height differ in their proportionality;
3. diet - for harmonious development it must include all the necessary vitamins, micro and macroelements, and be varied;
4. diseases of infectious origin that the child suffered;
5. the presence of genetic pathologies;
6. features of the course of pregnancy in the mother;
7. features of the delivery process.

Deviations from the norm

Significant underweight or, on the contrary, overweight, as well as too slow/very intensive growth is a consequence of the influence of various factors. To identify the causes of serious deviations, you will need to seek advice from specialists - a geneticist, endocrinologist, neurologist or gastroenterologist.

Depending on the individual characteristics of the body, weight correction can be done by making changes in diet and lifestyle; it is much more difficult to influence the child’s growth when abnormalities are identified.

Child height and weight by year table up to 10 years

Doctors monitor anthropometric indicators in children with a certain frequency for a reason, because severe stunting, serious underweight or excess weight are signals either about health problems in the child or about the formation of incorrect eating habits.

What are “height and weight standards” and how to relate to them

In order to draw conclusions about underweight or overweight, as well as about lagging or too rapid growth in each individual child, doctors need guidelines. Such guidelines are the standards defined by the World Health Organization. These standards were created on the basis of long-term observations of the anthropometric development of children and represent a kind of “corridor” from the lowest limits of height and weight to the highest. All children whose anthropometric data fall into this “corridor” are considered to be developing normally.

If height or weight indicators deviate slightly from the lowest or highest “corridor” values, then doctors pay special attention to such a child, more carefully monitor his development and watch for any alarming symptoms. If the height and weight data deviate significantly from the boundaries of the “corridor”, then such children are additionally examined.

Parents who carefully monitor the health and development of their child should pay attention to whether their child’s data falls within the “corridor” of normal indicators and whether the height and weight indicators correlate with each other.

Tables of height and weight of a boy by year up to 10 years old

Tables of height and weight of girls by year up to 10 years

How a child grows and develops from birth to six months

For the first time, the baby is weighed and his height is measured immediately after birth. This data is entered into the child’s individual medical record along with data on breathing, muscle tone and the presence of reflexes. At birth, the anthropometric “corridor” is the same for both girls and boys: 49.8/3.000–52.3/3.700. The first number in the entry indicates the child’s height in centimeters, and the second number indicates the weight in grams. The combination of numbers before the dash sign is the lower limit of the “corridor,” and the combination of numbers after the dash sign is the ratio of height and weight along the upper limit.

By the time they are discharged from the hospital, newborns can lose up to 10% of their weight; this is due to the start of the excretory system and is considered natural loss. The alarm should only be sounded if, two weeks after birth, the baby has not gained either height or weight.

The next control measurement of anthropometric indicators in a newborn is carried out by a pediatrician during a follow-up examination at the age of one month. By this point, the dynamics of development in boys and girls will already differ. The anthropometric “corridor” of norms for a one-month-old girl: 51.7/3.600-55.6/4.800, and for a one-month-old boy: 52.8/3.900-56.7/5.100.

If one-month-old babies are not growing in height and weight, then the doctor finds out how the baby sleeps, whether he often burps after feeding, how his excretory system works, whether and how often the mother applies the baby to the breast. If there are no other alarming symptoms, then the doctor will give recommendations on feeding and daily routine and will look at weight gain and height by two to three months.

At two months, girls should be in the range of height and weight: 55/4.500-59.1/5.800, and boys: 56.4/4.900-60.4/6.300. The range of indicators for three-month-old babies: 57.7/5.200-61.9/6.600, and for boys: 59.4/5.700-63.5/7.200. “Corridor” for four-month-old girls: 59.9/5.700-64.3/7300, for boys: 61.8/6.300-66/7.800.

If a child is not gaining weight and height, then the first thing the pediatrician pays attention to is the hereditary factor, as well as other indicators of the child’s well-being. If the baby’s parents do not have a strong physique and height, the child sleeps normally and develops in accordance with his age, then there is no reason for concern.

If the child is not gaining weight well and is restless, cannot withstand breaks between feedings of 2-3 hours and has difficulty falling asleep, then perhaps he does not have enough mother’s milk. In this case, the doctor may recommend medications to the mother to increase lactation, and if the problem still cannot be solved in this way, switch the baby to mixed feeding.

Lack of weight can also be a signal of serious health problems in the child, but parents need to remember that in this case other symptoms are added to the lack of weight that you simply cannot help but notice. For example, with hypothyroidism (lack of the hormone thyroxine), the baby will be lethargic, drowsy, his skin is swollen, he cries rarely and rudely, such a child has a noticeable delay in development.

It happens that by the age of four months children already have obvious excess body weight. In this case, the bottle-fed baby is transferred to another type of formula, and breastfed babies are recommended not to be breastfed at the first sign of concern.

From the age of four months, the growth rate of children gradually begins to decrease. By five months, the range for girls is: 61.8/6.100-66.3/7.800, and for boys: 63.8/6.100-68/7.800. At six months, the anthropometric “corridor” for girls is: 63.5/6.500-68/8.300, and for boys 65.5/7.100-69.8/8.900.

Nutrition and growth of the baby from six months to one year

At the age of six months, children who were previously exclusively breastfed begin to add their first complementary foods. Complementary feeding begins with dairy-free porridges, this can be buckwheat, rice or corn porridge. Children who are bottle-fed are first given single-component vegetable purees as complementary foods: zucchini, broccoli or cauliflower. Vegetable purees help cope with constipation, which often affects formula-fed babies. Often, for constipation, doctors recommend starting to introduce vegetable purees to bottle-fed children, even from the age of four months.

By seven months, girls should fall into the “corridor” of height and weight from 65/6.800 to 69.6/8.600, and boys - from 67/7.400 to 71.3/9.300. The menu for a seven-month-old baby consists of breast milk or formula, gluten-free cereals prepared in water with the addition of formula or breast milk, one-ingredient vegetable purees, water or herbal tea.

At eight months, girls should be in the range of 66.4/7.000-71.1/9.000 in height and weight, and boys: 68.5/7.700-72.8/9.600. At the age of eight months, children begin to introduce pureed meat, egg yolk and mashed potatoes cooked in water into their diet.

By nine months, the anthropological “corridor” for girls is 67.7/7.300-72.6/9.300, for boys: 69.7/8.000-74.3/9.900. At this age, children are introduced to cottage cheese and kefir.

The height and weight of ten-month-old girls should fall within the range of 69/7.500-74/9.600, and boys - 71/8.200-76/10.200. At 10 months, fruit purees are added to the children's diet: apple or pear, and prune puree.

By eleven months, fish can be added to the child’s menu. Since children at this age have already erupted 6-8 teeth, they begin to learn to chew. For this purpose, meat and fish are offered to the child not only in the form of puree, but also in the form of small soft meatballs. The “corridor” for eleven-month-old girls is 70.3/7.700-75.3/9.900, and for boys: 72.2/8.400-76.8/10.500.

The diet of one-year-old children who do not suffer from food allergies includes porridge, baby curds and kefir, vegetable soup, vegetable and fruit purees and casseroles, meat and fish, wheat bread, butter, eggs and juice. Height and weight range for one-year-old girls: 71.4/7.900-76.6/10.100, boys: 73.5/8.700-78/10.800.

How children grow from one to three years old

Upon reaching one year of age, growth in babies slows down again; there is no longer a need to measure anthropometric indicators monthly, so pediatricians monitor these data once every 3 months.

At 15 months, the range of indicators for girls is 75/8.500-80/11.000, and for boys: 76/9.000-82/11.500. The next checkpoint is in 3 months. By this time, the range of indicators for girls becomes: 78/9.000-84/11.500, and for boys: 79/9.500-85/13.000.

Until children reach the age of one and a half years, one should adhere to the same principles of organizing a child’s diet that are recommended for one-year-old babies. You can add hard cheese, sour cream (in the form of dressing) and berries (in the form of mousse, jelly or compote) to your daily menu. If the child does not have a tendency to be overweight, then from time to time he can be offered special children's cookies for an afternoon snack.

At 21 months, the normal range of anthropometric data for girls is: 81/9.500-87/12.500, for boys: 82/10.000-88/13.000. At 24 months, the “corridor” for girls: 83/10,000-90/13,500, for boys: 84/10,000-91/14,000.
The basis of the diet of two-year-olds also remains vegetables and cereals, meat, fish and dairy products. For children who are not prone to excess weight, you can add pasta and baby cocoa to the menu. But giving chocolate, mayonnaise, ketchup, smoked and salty foods to children under three years of age is strongly discouraged.

At 27 months, the anthropometric data of girls should fall within the range of 83/10.500-92/14.000, and for boys - 85/11.000-93/14.500. At 30 months – 86/11.000-95/14.500 (girls) and 88/11.500-96/15.500 (boys). At 33 months: 88/11.500-97/15.500 (girls) and 90/12.000-98/16.000 (boys).

By the age of three, according to anthropometric data, girls should normally fall into the “corridor” from 90/12,000 to 100/16,000, and boys from 92/12,000 to 100/16,500.

The influence of eating habits on the development of children from 3 to 5 years old

By the age of three, children have already formed certain food preferences and eating habits. Some of them directly lead to eating disorders and the development of obesity. For example, snacks between meals, the habit of eating quickly, the habit of getting an indispensable treat for “eating everything,” the habit of eating a second course with bread and quenching your thirst with sweet drinks, as well as the habit of receiving a sweet treat for good behavior. But all these wrong habits are formed in children by the closest adults - parents and grandparents, and all of them lead to the development of obesity.

According to experts, existing excess weight in children 3-5 years old provokes metabolic disorders, which entails various health problems, and most importantly, metabolic disorders, which subsequently creates very great difficulties in achieving a normal weight. Therefore, if a child at 3-5 years of age goes beyond the upper limit of the anthropometric “corridor” in terms of weight, analyze the family’s eating habits and change their lifestyle.

For three and a half year old girls, the anthropometric “corridor” is limited to 94/12,000-103/16,000, for boys – 95/13,000-104/17,500. Range for four-year-olds: 98/14,000-107/18,500 (girls) and 99/14,000-108/19,000 (boys).

Data for 4.5 years: 100/14,000-111/19,500 (girls) and 102/15,000-111/20,000 (boys). Five-year-old girls should fall within the anthropometric range from 104/15,000 to 114/21,000, and boys - from 105/16,000 to 115/21,000.

How girls and boys grow from 5 to 10 years old

Starting from the age of five, the scope of the “corridor” of anthropometric norms gradually expands. In addition, girls are beginning to overtake boys in anthropometric indicators.

At the age of six, the range of anthropometric data for girls is determined by the framework from 110/17.500 to 120/23.500, and for boys - from 111/18.000 to 121/23.500.

The range for seven-year-olds: 115/19.000-126/26.000, and for boys - 116/20.000-127/26.500. The scope of the anthropometric “corridor” for eight-year-old children: 120/21,000-132/30,000 (girls) and 121/22,000-133/29,500 (boys).

But the anthropometric standards for nine-year-olds already clearly reflect the gap between boys and girls - this is clearly visible from the lower limit of the norm. Thus, the “corridor” for nine-year-old girls is 132/27,000-139/34,000, and for boys – 127/23,000-139/33,000. By the age of 10, girls reach parameters of 132/27,000-145/38,000, and boys - 131/26,500-144/37,000.

This lag between boys and girls is absolutely normal, and it is due to the fact that girls begin the process of puberty earlier. Between the ages of 10 and 14, girls gain about 11-12 cm in height, but after fourteen the process slows down sharply, and by the age of 17, most girls’ growth stops. Boys, on the other hand, begin to actively grow only at the age of 13-14, but their growth can continue until the age of twenty.

A doctor's consultation is needed only for those children who, in adolescence, are significantly behind the lower limit of the anthropometric norm and this is not due to hereditary reasons. In this case, the teenager should be shown to an endocrinologist, since the most common cause of short stature that is not due to genetic reasons is hypopituitarism (insufficient production of growth hormone in the body). The problem is solved with the help of hormonal therapy, thanks to which children grow to normal levels.

Height and weight of a child from 0 to 17 years

IN tables “Child’s height and weight” given below, you will see scores from 1 to 8, and percentages are the rating that doctors give when examining a child. The so-called centile corridor.

Values ​​25% 50% 75%— Norma

From 10% to 125% or from 75% to 90%— Minor deviations from the norm.

3% to 10% or 90% to 97%— It is necessary to pay attention to the child’s health and conduct additional examinations.

Below 3% or above 97%— There is a high probability that the child has a pathology that affects the child’s physical development.

Child's future growth

(Mom's Height + Dad's Height) / 2 = Base

For girls: Base –5 cm = Child’s height as an adult

For boys: Base +5 cm = Child's height as an adult

For example: mom’s height is 162 cm, dad’s height is 178 cm. The approximate height of their son will be 175 cm. ((162+178)/2= 170; 170+5= 175)

Height and weight chart for children and adolescents from 0 to 17 years old.

Height to weight chart

Body mass index (BMI) for children and adolescents from 2 to 20 years.

This is the most accurate indicator of the height-to-weight ratio of children and adolescents. It is advisable to measure and record this indicator regularly. This way, you can determine at the right time a child’s tendency toward obesity or underweight and prevent negative consequences.

• Let's assume that the child is 9 years old and a boy. Then open the body mass index table for boys aged 0 to 20 years.
• On the bottom axis we find the number 9 (child’s age).
• On the left or right axis we find the number 16.0 (child’s BMI).
• We look at the intersection of lines coming from the obtained points.

Let's evaluate the result:

The red and green lines are the ideal height to weight ratio.

Above the yellow field - large excess of body weight

Centile corridor 75% - 85% (in some tables the upper limit is 90%) - a slight overweight

Centile corridor 50% - 75% - normal, height to weight ratio above average

Centile corridor 25% - 50% - normal, height to weight ratio below average

Centile corridor 10% - 25% - slight underweight

Below the yellow field - severe underweight

Increase muscle mass will help protein soups

The peace of mind of the parents depends on how the child grows and develops. To monitor physical development in infancy, the mother needs to measure the baby monthly, paying special attention to growth and weight gain. If the obtained values ​​correspond to the table standards, it means that the child is growing healthy and there is no particular reason for concern.

By whom, why and on what basis are weight and height indicators for children determined?

Child development standards were developed by specialists from the World Health Organization (WHO) based on the results of studies conducted in the early 2000s. The need to update previously existing tables arose due to changes in factors such as the environmental situation, nutrition, conditions and rhythm of life. The studies were conducted among several age groups living in different regions of the planet.

The baby’s anthropometric indicators allow us to assess his health and level of development. The main characteristics of a child in the first years of life are his height and weight. Deviations from established indicators in most cases are associated with the appearance of a disease. Thus, underweight in infants in some cases indicates pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, nervous or endocrine systems, immunodeficiency, rickets and other diseases.

For each indicator, the average normative value was calculated, as well as the corresponding limits within which the height and weight of a healthy baby are located. Patients with identified deviations from the established parameters should be closely monitored by the attending physician.

How is the height to weight ratio calculated?

The first mandatory measurement of a child is carried out immediately after his birth. The proportionality of the newborn’s body is assessed by a doctor in order to identify possible pathologies.

The most informative characteristic of a baby is height. Its low value indicates slow development of the infant, which is caused by some disease. Growth retardation is often observed in preschool children born prematurely. Diseases of the endocrine system may be the reason why a child is too tall. When assessing height measurements, genetic predisposition must be taken into account.

The baby's weight is a less important characteristic for the doctor. A slight deviation from the norm is often observed and in most cases is not associated with the presence of diseases. If the child’s weight is much lower than the calculated value, parents should contact their pediatrician. To establish an accurate diagnosis, additional tests are prescribed.

The ratio of a person's height to weight is called body mass index (BMI). Assessment of the baby’s physical condition using this indicator is considered the most accurate. The value of BMI for children depends on their age. A significant deviation in BMI from normal may indicate that the child is malnourished or obese. In both cases, the baby needs treatment.

Pediatricians evaluate the results of measuring the height and weight of children under 2 years old using charts of the ratio of these indicators. For children and adolescents aged 2 to 20 years, tables are used to estimate the relevant parameters by BMI.

WHO height and weight charts

WHO specialists have developed special tables of height and weight ratios for children of different ages depending on their gender. These international standards are used in medical practice by doctors from all countries.

To determine how harmoniously the baby is developing, parents can make calculations themselves. It should be remembered that the tables contain average figures and deviation from them is not always a sign of any disease. However, when the child’s weight or height significantly exceeds the permissible values, you need to see your doctor.

For girls under 1 year

During the first twelve months, your baby grows quickly, so it is important to take monthly measurements. According to the tabular data, the average height of newborn babies is 49.2 cm and weight is 3.2 kg.

For boys up to 1 year

The indicators for boys born are slightly higher - 49.9 cm and 3.3 kg.

If a baby is consistently underweight, you should make sure that he is getting enough breast milk. In some cases, babies need to be fed with artificial formula. Lack of nutrients negatively affects both the physical and mental development of infants.

For children from 1 to 10 years old

Starting from the age of two, the growth rate of children begins to decrease, but this does not mean that the height and weight standards of older children should not be taken into account by the attending physician during examination. When comparing the figures obtained during measurement with table values, it is necessary to take into account the following factors:

• heredity;
• list of past diseases;
• individual characteristics;
• nutritional balance.

Indicators corresponding to the norm are lower for girls and boys aged 1 to 10 years.

For boys

For girls

To find out whether a deviation from the norm is acceptable, you need to find the resulting value in the table corresponding to the age of your son or daughter. If the indicator is too high or below average, it is necessary to show the child to the pediatrician.

For children and teenagers from 11 to 17 years old

During adolescence, the final formation of body proportions occurs, so the range of values ​​corresponding to the norm increases. The physical development of girls and boys after 10 years has significant differences. In the fair sex, the process is intense and can occur in leaps and bounds up to the age of 18. For boys, it takes a longer period of time, so girls of the same age are ahead of them in development and growth.

Teenage girls over 10 years old are often embarrassed by their rounded shapes and try to adhere to strict diets when it comes to food. This can cause serious consequences in the future, since until the age of 18 the body is still growing and needs nutrients.

The parameters of adolescents corresponding to the normal development of the body between the ages of 11 and 18 are shown in the table:

If deviations are still present, it is necessary to determine their significance. For these purposes, tables are used with a gradation of indicators from the “low” level to the “too high” level.

What factors influence children's weight and height?

The main factor influencing anthropometric indicators is genetic predisposition. However, the influence of heredity is manifested in the development of children, starting from the age of three. Before this, the baby should weigh no more and no less than the standard values.

The newborn’s indicators may be far from normal if during pregnancy the mother was unable to give up bad habits - smoking and drinking alcohol. Also an important factor in this matter is the proper nutrition of the expectant mother and the intake of vitamin and mineral complexes during the period of fetal formation.

In order for a child’s height and weight to remain normal, he needs to get the necessary nutrients from food. The following products should be present in the diet:

• various types of meat;
• cottage cheese, milk and other dairy products;
• eggs;
• vegetables, fruits, herbs;
• berries;
• pasta and various cereals;
• fish.

The variety of dishes in a baby's diet should increase as he grows up. Adding new foods to your child’s food is done gradually, so he may experience an allergic reaction.

The child’s growth indicators will not meet the standards if the body’s hormonal levels are disrupted. This condition is associated with diseases of the adrenal glands, pancreas and thyroid glands.

The problem of overweight and underweight

In childhood, body weight is an important indicator of a child's health. If measurements indicate underweight or overweight, it is necessary to find out the cause of this condition, as it can have serious consequences.

The child weighs less than normal due to a lack of nutrients entering the body with food. In infants with underweight, neuropsychological development disorders may occur, and various tissues and organs form late. This, in turn, leads to the appearance of pathologies such as visual impairment, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, and diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

Underweight in schoolchildren causes weak immunity, digestive disorders, low levels of hemoglobin in the blood, rickets, and delayed puberty. In adolescence, malnutrition is associated with a child’s refusal to eat due to stress, neuroses, and mental stress.

Excess weight has a negative impact on the heart and blood vessels, joints, digestive, nervous and hormonal systems. If excess weight is not associated with a medical problem, it can be controlled with a balanced diet.

Problems of intensive and slow growth

When the growth rate in children is significantly lower than normal, parents need to contact a pediatrician as soon as possible to find out and eliminate the cause of this deviation. The intensity of growth largely depends on how many nutrients enter the body with food.

Disorders of the endocrine system, in which insufficient amounts of growth hormone are released, lead to lag. Healthy sleep helps increase its level.

If a child's growth begins to slow down at age 2, this may be due to a genetic factor. Hereditary pathologies that can cause growth retardation include chromosomal abnormalities, disturbances in the metabolism of phosphorus, calcium, amino acids, and others.