Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 13, 2026

Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) Activity in Toddlers - Resting and Developmental Challenges
08:22

Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) Activity in Toddlers - Resting and Developmental Challenges

Published on: February 25, 2016

Growth patterns in Saudi Arabian children

S S Wong1, A R al-Frayh

  • 1Community Medicine College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University.

Journal of the Royal Society of Health
|April 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

This study presents head and chest circumference data for 6623 Saudi Arabian preschoolers. Boys generally had larger measurements than girls, with significant differences observed across age groups.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Human Growth and Development
  • Anthropometry

Background:

  • Growth monitoring is crucial for assessing child health.
  • Limited anthropometric data exists for Saudi Arabian preschool children.
  • Establishing normative data is essential for early detection of growth abnormalities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present the first comprehensive head and chest circumference measurements for Saudi Arabian preschool children.
  • To analyze sex-based differences in head and chest circumferences.
  • To describe the relationship between head and chest circumference growth patterns.

Main Methods:

  • A large-scale, cross-sectional growth study was conducted in Riyadh.
  • Measurements included head and chest circumferences of 6623 Saudi Arabian children.
  • Statistical analysis, including analysis of variance, was used to compare groups.

Main Results:

  • Boys exhibited larger head and chest circumferences than girls across all age groups, with statistically significant differences.
  • In average-build children (50th centile), head circumference was initially larger than chest circumference but became equal by one year.
  • Chest circumference surpassed head circumference after one year in average-build children, while small-build children reached this point later.

Conclusions:

  • This study provides valuable normative data for Saudi Arabian preschool children's head and chest circumferences.
  • Significant sex-based dimorphism in growth measurements was observed.
  • Growth patterns indicate distinct head and chest circumference trajectories influenced by build and age.

More Related Videos

COVID-19 Seroprevalence Test for IgG Antibody Levels Among Healthy Donors Across Different Pandemic Phases in Jeddah04:43

COVID-19 Seroprevalence Test for IgG Antibody Levels Among Healthy Donors Across Different Pandemic Phases in Jeddah

Published on: June 24, 2025

Midface Hypoplasia and Cranial Base Morphology in Syndromic Craniosynostosis: A Comparative Analysis Study Using a Predictive Regression Model08:03

Midface Hypoplasia and Cranial Base Morphology in Syndromic Craniosynostosis: A Comparative Analysis Study Using a Predictive Regression Model

Published on: November 4, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience, such as differences...
Population Growth00:57

Population Growth

Population size is dynamic, increasing with birth rates and immigration, and decreasing with death rates and emigration. In ideal conditions with unlimited resources, populations can increase exponentially, which plots as a J-shaped growth rate curve of population size against time. This type of curve is characteristic of newly-introduced invasive species, or populations that have suffered catastrophic declines and are rebounding.However, realistic environmental conditions limit the number of...
Introduction to Developmental Psychology01:27

Introduction to Developmental Psychology

Developmental psychology explores the changes and continuities in human abilities throughout life, encompassing physical, cognitive, linguistic, and social dimensions. Human development is not restricted to growth, but includes aspects of decline, particularly in physical abilities as individuals age. Developmental psychologists seek to understand how people change as they age and how their mental and social skills evolve.Developmental MilestonesA key concept in developmental psychology is...
Three Developmental Domains01:29

Three Developmental Domains

Human development is typically examined across three main domains: physical, cognitive, and socio-emotional. These domains represent the significant areas of change and continuity throughout the lifespan, from infancy to late adulthood.
Physical Development
Physical processes, also known as maturation, encompass the biological changes that occur across an individual's life. These changes begin with genetic inheritance and continue through various stages, including growth in height and weight,...
Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development01:30

Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development

Social-emotional experiences and cultural influences play significant roles in shaping gender development. During middle childhood, from ages 6 to 11, peer groups become dominant in reinforcing gender norms. Children in this age group often align with same-gender peer groups, which actively encourage behaviors that conform to traditional gender roles. For instance, boys may be discouraged from engaging in activities perceived as feminine, reinforcing culturally dictated norms about masculinity...
Oxygen Requirements and Growth Patterns01:29

Oxygen Requirements and Growth Patterns

Microorganisms exhibit diverse oxygen requirements and growth patterns driven by their metabolic strategies and environmental adaptations. Oxygen, while essential for many organisms, can also be toxic under certain conditions, shaping how microorganisms grow and survive.Oxygen Requirements of MicroorganismsMicroorganisms are classified based on their ability to use or tolerate oxygen:● Obligate aerobes like Mycobacterium tuberculosis need oxygen for energy production, as it serves as the...