Why Track Growth Trends?
A single measurement tells you where your child ranks today. Multiple measurements tell you where they’re heading. The WHO Child Growth Standards define healthy growth as following a consistent percentile channel. Children who cross major percentile lines (e.g. from the 50th to the 15th) between measurements may need closer evaluation, regardless of where they started.
This analyzer computes the z-score for each measurement point using the WHO LMS method, calculates the growth velocity between consecutive points, and fits a linear trend line to the z-scores to determine if growth is stable, accelerating, or faltering.
Interpreting Trend Directions
- Stable: Z-score change of less than 0.3 per year. The child is following their growth curve consistently.
- Accelerating: Z-score increasing by 0.3–1.0 per year. The child is gaining percentile rank. Mild acceleration can be normal during catch-up growth.
- Faltering: Z-score decreasing by 0.3–1.0 per year. The child is losing percentile rank. If persistent, paediatric evaluation is recommended.
- Rapid change: Z-score changing by more than 1.0 per year. This may indicate an underlying issue and warrants medical evaluation.