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Anthropometric indices of failure to thrive
1Department of Community Child Health, Belmont House, 3 Belmont Grove, Leeds LS2 9NP, UK.
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|May 9, 2000
Summary
This study compared five methods for classifying failure to thrive (FTT) in children. Weight alone is the simplest and most effective indicator for predicting associated developmental and eating problems.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Child Health
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Failure to thrive (FTT) is a complex condition affecting child development.
- Accurate classification of FTT is crucial for timely intervention.
- Existing anthropometric methods for FTT classification vary in their predictive capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness of five anthropometric methods in classifying failure to thrive.
- To determine the predictive value of each method for developmental, dietary, and eating problems.
- To identify the most reliable anthropometric marker for FTT.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving 83 children diagnosed with failure to thrive.
- Evaluation of five distinct anthropometric methods for FTT classification.
- Analysis of the consistency and predictive accuracy of each method.
Main Results:
- Significant inconsistencies were observed among the five anthropometric methods in classifying FTT severity.
- No single method demonstrated superiority in predicting developmental, dietary, or eating problems.
- The classification of FTT severity varied considerably across the evaluated methods.
Conclusions:
- Weight alone emerges as the simplest and most practical anthropometric marker for failure to thrive.
- Using weight alone is a reasonable approach for identifying children at risk for associated problems.
- Simplicity in assessment does not compromise the ability to predict FTT-related issues.