The strengths and limitations of parental heights as a predictor of attained height
Charlotte M Wrighta, Tim D Cheethamb
a Department of Child
Health, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne NE8
1EB, UK, b Royal Victoria
Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, UK
Correspondence to: Dr C M Wright, Community Child Health Unit, Donald Court House, 13 Walker Terrace, Gateshead NE8 1EB, UK.
Accepted 20 May 1999
Mid-parental heights are widely used to help assess an
individual child's growth. However, the methods in use vary, and most make no allowance for extremes of parental height. This study aimed to
examine the actual distribution of parental heights in a survey
population and the relation with their children's heights. The heights
of 419 representatively sampled children aged 8-9 years were compared
with their reported mid-parental heights, all expressed as standard
deviation scores (SDS). These confirmed previous predictions that 90%
of the children's heights would fall within 1.5 SDS (approximately
two centile spaces) of their mid-parental heights. However, where
parents were unusually tall or short, their children were relatively
less tall or short, respectively, and the mid-parental height was a
poor predictor of attained height. A simple calculator for expected
height centile is described that automatically adjusts for this
regression to the mean. Of 13 children below the second centile for
height, eight were within two centile spaces (90% range) of their
mid-parental height SDS. However, when allowance was made for
regression to the mean, only three of 13 were within the 90% range.
Although mid-parental height provides a useful guide to expected height
centile for children and parents of average stature, it can be
misleading when used to assess short children.
Keywords: growth; mid-parental height; short stature
© 1999 by Archives of Disease in Childhood
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