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Growth and development is the process through which the fetus changes in size, shape, composition, and function to become a reproductively mature adult. Growth is generally defined as the change (or rate of change) in one or more continuous measures of size, shape, or composition, usually assessed by anthropometry (see Anthropometry). Indeed, the term growth is often used as a shorthand for child anthropometry. Development reflects maturation as measured by ordinal markers of function; some markers are inherently discontinuous, while others have an underlying continuum. Menarche, the onset of menstruation, is a marker of development, while height gain is a measure of growth. The statistical issues that arise in growth and development fall broadly into two categories: methods for cross-sectional data, notably the construction of growth references, and methods for longitudinal data, particularly growth curve analysis. Keywords: anthropometry; weight; height; growth reference; growth curve; maturation |
