OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of individual growth is important in orthodontics. The aim of this study was to develop a convenient software that can evaluate current growth status and predict further growth. METHODS: Stature data of 2 to 20 year-old Koreans (4893 boys and 4987 girls) were extracted from a nationwide data. Age-sex-specific continuous functions describing percentile growth curves were constructed using natural cubic spline function (NCSF). Then, final stature prediction algorithm was developed and its validity was tested using longitudinal series of stature measurements on randomly selected 200 samples. Various accuracy measurements and analyses of errors between observed and predicted stature using NCSF growth curves were performed. RESULTS: NCSF growth curves were shown to be excellent models in describing reference percentile stature growth curve over age. The prediction accuracy compared favorably with previous prediction models, even more accurate. The current prediction models gave more accurate results in girls than boys. Although the prediction accuracy was high, the error pattern of the validation data showed that in most cases, there were a lot of residuals with the same sign, suggestive of autocorrelation among them. CONCLUSION: More sophisticated growth prediction algorithm is warranted to enhance a more appropriate goodness of model fit for individual growth.
Female ; Growth Charts ; Humans ; Orthodontics ; Young Adult

For orthodontic treatment of growing patients and those which involve long treatment times, knowledge of growth and development are essential. Data from the general growth observation chart being used at present does not reflect the growth transition of modern times. This is because these data are out of date. The present study, therefore, aims to introduce the process of producing a growth curve and growth rate curve based on data which represents a more accurate description of the present situation. The data used were from the 5th nationwide survey, SIZE KOREA 2004 study, carried out by the Technology and Standards Policy Division, Department of Technology and Standards Planning, Ministry of Commerce. Processing and rearranging produced data with variations divided into the three quartiles and the 1st, 5th, 95th and 99th percentiles were included to produce a growth observation chart according to sex, height and weight differences. In the same way, a growth rate curve based on the geometric mean value was produced. The resulting growth charts can be used as an index for growth and development, and used for better communication between the orthodontist, patients and parents.
Commerce ; Growth and Development ; Growth Charts ; Humans ; Korea ; Parents

After the WHO Growth Standards (WHOGS) was published in 2006, many countries in the world endorsed and adopted the new growth references as a standard measure for the growth of infants and young children. Certainly, the WHOGS has an impact on the global policy about obesity and underweight in children. Such WHOGS innovation has influenced many regional health authorities and academies, which have managed their own growth charts for a long time, in changing their strategies to develop and use regional growth charts. In Korea, along with the tradition to create a national growth chart every decade, we now face a new era of advancing with the WHOGS.
Academies and Institutes ; Child ; Growth Charts ; Humans ; Infant ; Korea ; Obesity ; Thinness

Height and weight are important indicators to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI); measuring height and weight directly is the most exact method to get this information. However, it is ineffective in terms of cost and time on large population samples. The aim of our study was to investigate the validity of self-reported height and weight data compared to our measured data in Korean children to predict obese status. Four hundred twenty-two fifth-grade (mean age 10.5 +/- 0.5 years) children who had self-reported and measured height and weight data were final subjects for this study. Overweight/obese was defined as a BMI of or above the 85th percentile of the gender-specific BMI for age in the 2007 Korean National Growth Charts or a BMI of 25 or higher (underweight : < 5th, normal : > or = 5th to < 85th, overweight : > or = 85th to < 95th). The differences between self-reported and measured data were tested using paired t-test. Differences based on overweight/obese status were tested using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and linear trends. Pearson's correlation and Cohen's kappa were tested to examine agreements between the self-reported and measured data. Although measured and self-reported height, weight and BMI were significantly different and children tended to overreport their height and underreport their weight, the correlation between the two methods of height, weight and BMI were high (r = 0.956, 0.969, 0.932, respectively; all P < 0.001), and both genders reported their overweight/non-overweight status accurately (Cohen's kappa = 0.792, P < 0.001). Although there were differences between the self-reported and our measured methods, the self-reported weight and height was valid enough to classify overweight/obesity status correctly, especially in non-overweight/obese children. Due to bigger underestimation of weight and overestimation of height in obese children, however, we need to be aware that the self-reported anthropometric data were less accurate in overweight/obese children than in non-overweight/obese children.
Body Mass Index ; Child ; Growth Charts ; Humans ; Overweight

2007 Korean National Growth Charts were published by The Korean Pediatric Society and Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in October, 2007. These Growth Charts are composed of Growth Curves and Tables, which are based on the principles such as pooling data of the different generations and application of LMS method. In this review, several tips of application using these new charts are summarized with points of view both in clinical and research fields.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Family Characteristics ; Growth Charts ; Korea

Growth is a potent indicator of child health. The child who grows well is generally healthy, and poor growth reflects his or her ill health. Identification of poor growth acts as a useful early warning of a possible problem. Monitoring children's growth status with appropriate assessments is an important part of pediatrics, and the recognition of growth problems in children is one of the major challenges facing primary care physicians. The process of growth assessment involves measurements of height and/or weight, and sometimes also involves more specialized measurements that are plotted on standard growth charts. In order to identify pathologic growth, a careful history and physical examination should also be obtained. The purpose of this article is to provide information for primary care physicians to guide the assessment of growth in children. Tools to assist in the assessment of growth are discussed as well as normal growth patterns of children.
Child ; Child Health ; Growth Charts ; Growth Disorders ; Humans ; Pediatrics ; Physical Examination ; Physicians, Primary Care

PURPOSE:Insuline-like growth factor I(IGF-I) is polypeptide mitogen and mediate growth effect of growth hormone(GH). It's serum level is regulated by GH. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether -2 standard deviation of IGF-I level in normal short stature after insuline and L-dopa stimulation test has any diagnostic significance in GH deficiency. METHOD:We included 64 children with GH deficiency(complete GH deiciency 18 cases, partial GH deficiency 46 cases). Their height was below 10 percentile of korean children's standard growth chart. Control group was 175 children whose test results were normal after insuline and L-dopa stimulation test. Serum growth hormone level was measured by IRMA(immunoradiometric assay) with "Daiichi" kit(Japan) and serum IGF-I level was measured with 125I RIA kit (U.S.A). RESULTS: 1)Serum IGF-I level in normal stimulation test result group was increased with the age and the level was higher in female than that of male. 2)Using the cut-off value of -2SD of IGF-I level in control group, sensitivity was 17.2%, specificity was 98.86%, positive predictive value was 84.62%, negative predictive value was 76.55%, and test accuracy was 76.99%. Sensitivity and test accuracy was 44.44% and 93.26% in th complete GH deficiency, respectively. 3)Serum IGF-I level was significantly correlated with peak GH level with insuline stimulation test in control and GH deficiency group(Y=0.018889X+11.32 r= 0.23930 P=0.0014, Y=0.008592X+4.189 r=0.28141 P=0.0267). But serum IGF-I level was was not correlated with peak GH level with L-dopa stimulation test(Y= 0.005609X+13.88 r=0.06625 P=0.3823, Y=0.008293X+2.98 r=0.20895 P=0.1031). CONCLUSION: Serum IGF-I level in GH deficiency group was lower than that of control group and had wide variation of normal range. Based upon above results IGF-I level has limited clinical value in the diagnosis of GH deficiency.
Child ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Growth Charts ; Growth Hormone* ; Humans ; Insulin ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I* ; Levodopa ; Male ; Reference Values ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: The aim of present study was to compare the mean serum levels of Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) according to the Korean standard growth chart especially in children with idiopathic short stature. METHODS: Serum levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were determined in 454 children (252 boys and 202 girls; ages 7-15 yr), grouped into two, according to their height below 10 percentile (idiopathic short stature) and 25-50 percentile based on growth chart- 1998 reported by Korean Society of Pediatrics. Serum levels of IGF-I were measured by RIA method and serum levels of IGFBP-3 were measured by IRMA method. RESULTS: Mean serum levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were lower in below 10 percentile group compared with those of 25-50 percentile group in both sexes. In some age groups, the differences between two groups revealed statistical significance. The difference of serum levels according to growth channel showed more prominence in IGF-I compared than IGFBP-3. Significant statistical correlations were demonstrated in all study groups between serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels according to the age, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our results strongly suggest that mean serum levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in children with idiopathic short stature were lower than those of control group.
Child ; Growth Charts ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Pediatrics

Nutritional assessment in adolescents is key to detect major health risks at this age, such as obesity and under nutrition, which continue as adult health risks. Recent epidemiological evidence in Korea has shown that obesity is quite prevalent. Scientific protocols assessing nutritional status should be used in various clinical settings, particularly in hospitals and schools. Recent protocols are typically based on growth charts, calorie calculating equations, and Dietary Reference Intakes in Korea which have been developed through extensive studies. Non-communicable chronic diseases, such as type II diabetes mellitus and atherosclerosis could be ameliorated by intervening in behaviors related to nutrition.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Atherosclerosis ; Chronic Disease ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Growth Charts ; Humans ; Korea ; Nutrition Assessment ; Nutritional Status ; Obesity

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to provide current estimates of the prevalence and examine trends of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents. METHODS: Height and weight measurements from 183,159 (112,974 in 1997, 70,185 in 2005) children and adolescents aged 2 to 18 years were obtained via the 1997 and 2005 National Growth Survey. Obesity among children and adolescents was defined as being at or above the 95th percentile of the gender-specific body mass index (BMI) for age in the 2007 Korean National Growth Charts or a BMI of 25 or higher; overweight was defined as being at or above the 85th percentile to less than the 95th percentile BMI. RESULTS: In 2005, 9.7% (11.3% for boys, 8.0% for girls) of South Korean children and adolescents were obese; 19.0% (19.7% for boys, 18.2% for girls) were overweight or obese. The overall prevalence of obesity increased from 5.8% in 1997 to 9.7% in 2005 (from 6.1% in 1997 to 11.3% in 2005 for boys and from 5.5% in 1997 to 8.0% in 2005 for girls); the increasing trend was most evident in boys, especially those aged 13-18 years. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents increased significantly during the eight-year period from 1997 to 2005. This study suggests that we need to make a priority of developing strategies to control obesity in children and adolescents; the potential health effects of increases in obesity are of considerable public health importance.
Adolescent ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Growth Charts ; Humans ; Obesity ; Overweight ; Prevalence ; Public Health