Question
A 4-and-a-half-year-old boy has a height of 1 meter and a weight of 28 pounds, which makes him appear much shorter than his peers in school. I am worried about whether his growth and development may have a problem.
Answer
A child’s height and health status are not always directly proportional. Among children of the same age, a child with slightly shorter stature does not necessarily have a worse health condition than one with slightly taller stature. However, if a child’s height is outside the normal range, this may indicate a special situation in terms of growth and development. Parents should take their child to the hospital for a detailed examination to find out the cause.