A 9-year-old child who has been followed in the same pediatric health care home since birth is at the health care center for a well-child visit

Question

A nurse who measures the height and weight of the child documents 35th percentile for height and 90th percentile for weight. How should the nurse interpret these data? 1. The child is beginning a growth spurt.
2. The child is obese, and needs dietary counseling.
3. The parents are most likely below the 50th percentile for height and weight.
4. As soon as the child begins the adolescent growth spurt, the height and weight measurements will normalize.

Answer 1

2
Rationale:
1. This is not a growth spurt, since height is what is referred to by the term growth spurt.
2. These data show that the child is disproportionate in height and weight. This child's weight is very high in comparison with height. The child would appear obese. Dietary history and counseling are the first steps. This child also might need an endocrine evaluation.
3. No assumptions about the parents can be made from the data presented.
4. The statement about the adolescent growth spurt is incorrect for this age child.