Introduction: Systematically taken measurements of body length, and--after 18 months of life--height, facilitate the correct monitoring of the course of physical development in children and teenagers. Measuring body mass only is incorrect and may lead to a faulty evaluation of the patient's condition.
Aim of study: Assessment of frequency of measurements of body mass and height during the developmental period among students born between 1989-1991.
Material and methods: For 109 subjects (52% women), age 20.0±1.0 year, range 19.1-23.8 years of age, measurements at birth, duration of the mother's pregnancy and frequency of measurements of body mass and weight until the 18th year of life.
Results: The frequency of measurements of body length and height was the highest during the 1st and 2nd year of life, on average every 3 months during the 1st year and every 6 months during the 2nd year. However, during the 1st year as many as 1/3 of children were assessed incorrectly by having only their body mass measured. During the 2nd year, regardless of body mass at birth, measurements were taken more frequently than during the 1st year, which may suggest inadequate preparation of the medical personnel to take measurements of the baby's body length. Measurements of body height and even body mass during puberty and the growth spurt were carried out in a far too small percentage of subjects.
Conclusions: 1. Body mass measurements are all too frequently not accompanied by measurements of body length or height, with the result that the physician is unable to assess the child's growth pattern. 2. Measurements of body height and mass were taken too infrequently during childhood and puberty, which in many cases makes it impossible to assess the subject's physical development.