Abstract

The construction of growth charts is one of the essential procedures used for defining normal patterns of human growth and evaluating trends in quantitative terms in the pediatric field. This research also helps to present a detailed growth chart of PI for Pakistani adults with aggregated data of 9906 people of Multan and Bahawalpur (cities of Pakistan). The PI as an indicator of growth and development is a dimensionless measure of BMI adjusted for height. It is found that the PI mean value is 14.80 ± 3.57 (mean ± SD) which shows a moderate increase in PI values from the age of 5 years with a plateau at the age of 15 years. According to the Gaussian percentiles, it can be pointed out that the construction of growth charts for various physiological and pathological states is essential. Empirical PI Gaussian (Z-score) Percentiles can be used as discrete estimates of population Gaussian (Z-score) Percentiles. This is possible since the use of the Z-score approach makes it easier to develop smoother and more accurate PI Z-score percentiles concerning specific ages. With this methodology, one can develop growth reference curves for various physiological and medical disorders that affect children and adolescents. This will allow practitioners to comprehend normal growth and establish some reference points against which to consider abnormal growth. In medical terms, this paper will be useful for the field of pediatric medicine where it will contribute a detailed growth chart of PI in adults of the Pakistani population. The findings affirm the necessity for generating growth charts by different physiological and pathological circumstances, pointing to empirical PI Gaussian (Z-score) Percentiles as appropriating discrete measures of population Gaussian (Z-score) Percentiles. According to the Z-score approach, more accurate and continuous PI Z-score curves against the given ages may be established so that various deviations from normal growth may be distinguished.

Keywords

ponderal index, quantitative approach, obesity, gaussian (z-score) percentiles, growth charts