Table of Contents
- Overview
- Prevention
- Images
Alternative Names
Height and weight chart
Information
Growth charts are used to compare your child's height, weight, and head size against children of the same age.
Growth charts can help both you and your health care provider follow your child as he or she grows. These charts may provide an early warning that your child has a medical problem.
Growth charts were developed from information gained by measuring and weighing thousands of children. From these numbers, the national average weight and height for each age and gender were established.
The lines or curves on growth charts tell how many other children in the United States weigh a certain amount at a certain age. For example, the weight on the 50th percentile line means that half of the children in the U.S. weigh more than that number and half of the children weigh less.
Review Date: 02/10/2011
Reviewed By: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
