Age at maximum growth spurt in body height for Saudi school children aged 9-18 years

OBJECTIVE: To provide growth reference values in body height, to determine the specific age at peak height velocity for Saudi male and female adolescences aged 9-18 years and to evaluate the appropriateness of using the Centers for Disease Control/National Center for Health Statistics (CDC/NCHS) growth standards in body height for the assessment of Saudi adolescents. METHODS: A cross-sectional anthropometric survey was conducted in 1053 Saudi male and female school children living in Riyadh city. The study sample was collected in the year 2000 and data were completed and refined in the year 2002. Standing height measurements were recorded for each subject using standard measuring techniques. The 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th percentiles for body height were calculated separately for boys and girls in one year intervals. The median reference values were compared with the corresponding values in the CDC/NHCS and with other similar studies on Saudi population. RESULTS: The results revealed that the age at peak height velocity for Saudi boys is 13-14 years and for Saudi girls is 10-11 years. The median value for body height at 18 years old for male and female was comparable with other studies reported in similar ethnic group. CONCLUSION: The use of the CDC/NCHS growth standard for height does not appear appropriate for the assessment of growth of Saudi children aged 9-18 years.