groeicurve

Groeicurve, or growth curve, is a graphical representation of the growth of an individual or a population over time. In medicine and public health, it is most often used to track measurements such as height, weight, head circumference, and sometimes body mass index against age. The curve is constructed by plotting longitudinal measurements on a chart and comparing them to reference values derived from healthy populations.

Typically, age is plotted on the horizontal axis and the measurement on the vertical axis. Reference curves include percentiles or standard deviation scores, which indicate how an individual’s measurements relate to a reference population. Common practice is to use standardized growth charts, such as WHO standards for young children or country-specific charts, to assess whether growth follows a normal trajectory or shows deviations.

Groeicures serve several purposes. They help identify children who may have growth deficiencies or excesses, malnutrition, chronic illness, or hormonal or metabolic disorders. They also monitor growth velocity, the rate of change over time, which can signal emerging health problems even when a single measurement appears within normal limits. Beyond pediatrics, growth curves can describe growth patterns in plants, livestock, or other biological systems, using appropriate growth models (for example, sigmoidal growth curves like logistic or Gompertz models).

Interpretation requires cautious consideration of factors such as age, sex, pubertal stage, genetic potential, nutritional status, and measurement accuracy. Variability between reference populations means clinicians use curves as guidance, not absolute thresholds, and may corroborate findings with clinical assessment and additional tests.