Social environment and height: England and Scotland 1987 and 1988

Article Abstract:

Children's height is a good indicator of their physical well-being, and may also reliably show nutritional status. Height has been used as a way to detect influences on growth, such as paternal social class, employment, and presence of overcrowding. However, associations between height and these environmental influences may be confounded by variations in social and biological factors. It is not known which of these variables are significant, and attempts to account for their effects have been unsuccessful or inconsistent. The effects of confounding variables in studies of height and environmental factors were evaluated. Information from a representative sample of 8,491 children in England and Scotland and 3,203 children from English inner cities was evaluated. Height and paternal social class were significantly associated in both English and Scottish children, and children in Scotland were shorter. Social class and height were also associated in inner city children, but this was partially dependent on ethnic group. Adjustment for biological variables such as gestational age at birth, birth weight, ethnic group, and particularly parental height removed the significance of the association between height and social class in English and Scottish children. Birth order and number of siblings also influenced height in both these groups and inner city children. The final analysis showed that in the larger sample of children, parental height, the child's birth weight, gestational age, number of siblings, latitude and country of residence, maternal age, and parental employment all significantly influenced height. In the inner city children, parental height, birth weight, gestational age, birth order, ethnic group, number of siblings (which was related to ethnic group), maternal age, latitude and longitude of residence, and whether free school meals were received all were significantly correlated with height. The study suggests that biological factors influence children's height more than social factors in England and Scotland. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Social aspects, Demographic aspects, Genetic aspects, Ecology, Environment and children

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Need for new reference curves for height

Article Abstract:

If a child is abnormally short or tall, it may indicate some pathological condition. To determine whether a child's height is within the normal range, the reference curves used must assess realistically what the norms are for children of similar subgroups. If that determination is not made accurately, treatment for a disorder that manifests itself by an abnormality of height may be delayed. Using data from the National Study for Health and Growth in Great Britain, the authors found that 'normal' height of children residing in England and Scotland varied with several characteristics. Ethnic origin, birth weight and height of the parents were significant factors. Differences were also found among children from Northwest England, Southeast England and Scotland. Racial differences in height were also noted between white children, children of Afro-Caribbean origin and those of Indian origin. In assessing whether or not a child shows an abnormal growth pattern, it is suggested that the child should be compared with children from similar sex, family size, place of residence, and ethnic origins. However, if the single reference curve continues to be used, it should be revised to reflect the overall increase in mean height of children aged five to 11 that has occurred since the standard reference curves were last updated. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Diagnosis, Growth disorders, Child development deviations, Developmental disabilities, Human growth, Human development

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Sleep habits and height at ages 5 to 11

Article Abstract:

Sleep disorders have been reported in children with short stature. The levels of growth hormone in the circulation increase during the night, specifically at the start of slow-wave, or deep, sleep. Short stature may sometimes result from psychosocial deprivation. Children with short stature due to psychosocial deprivation were shown to have deficient slow-wave sleep and decreased growth hormone secretion, which may contribute to their delayed growth. The relation between total sleep duration, overnight growth hormone secretion, and growth is not known. The duration of sleep and its relation to height were assessed in 5,145 children aged 5 to 11 years, who were participating in the British National Study of Health and Growth. Questionnaires given to parents were used to estimate the times for going to sleep at night and for waking in the morning. The findings showed only a weak relation between sleep duration and height, suggesting that the variation in sleep duration has little influence on growth. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Somatotropin, Sleep

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