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Updated: May 15, 2026
09:36
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
To be or not to be "TALL"?
1Endocrinology & Diabetes Research Unit, WHO Collaborative Center for Diabetes in Youth, Schneider Children's Medical Center, Petach Tikva, Israel. laronz@clalit.org.il
Pediatric Endocrinology Reviews : PER
|January 12, 2013
Summary
Constitutional tall stature in children can be predicted using early measurements. Healthy tall individuals often have elevated serum growth hormone (hGH) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) levels.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Genetics
- Growth Hormone Axis
Background:
- Constitutional tall stature is often genetic and can be predicted from early childhood measurements.
- Elevated serum levels of growth hormone (hGH) and/or insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) are observed in healthy tall children and their parents.
- A significant association between height and serum IGF-I exists in healthy adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the predictability of constitutional tall stature.
- To highlight the role of the growth hormone (hGH) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) axis in healthy tall stature.
- To differentiate normal tall stature from pathological conditions like gigantism.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature and studies on constitutional tall stature.
- Analysis of data correlating neonatal length and childhood measurements (ages 4 and 8) with final height.
- Examination of serum hGH and IGF-I levels in healthy tall individuals and comparison with pathological cases.
Main Results:
- Neonatal length and measurements at ages 4 and 8 can predict constitutional tall stature.
- Healthy tall children and parents typically exhibit high-normal or elevated serum hGH and/or IGF-I levels.
- A significant positive correlation (p<0.005) between height and serum IGF-I was found in healthy adults.
Conclusions:
- Constitutional tall stature has a strong genetic basis and can be anticipated through early growth monitoring.
- Elevated IGF-I and hGH levels within the normal range are characteristic of healthy tall stature.
- Distinguishing normal tall stature from pathological conditions like gigantism is crucial for appropriate diagnosis and management.
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