Question
My child has always been shorter than his peers, but last year, it seemed like he stopped growing. I supplement his nutrition every day, but there’s no significant effect. I’m not sure if he has dwarfism or short stature.
Answer
Short stature and dwarfs can be somewhat equivalent in a broad sense. The term ‘dwarfism’ is currently being replaced by ‘short stature’ in the medical field due to its discriminatory connotations. Dwarfism typically refers to individuals who are short due to a lack of growth hormone. Short and stout usually refers to a broader range, not just those lacking growth hormone but also those who are short due to other diseases, and can sometimes also be referred to as short and stout if their bodies do not meet the required standards.