title: Analysis of growth curves via mixtures.
abstract: We present a method for analysing growth curves using the mixtures-of-experts (ME) approach, which enables flexible estimation of the dependence of height on age. Individual growth curves are first fitted and the resulting estimates are then pooled to facilitate the estimation of mean growth curves, velocity and acceleration of growth and centile curves. The method allows for comparisons between males and females. We illustrate our methodology with data on growth of male and female children (0-4 years old).
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, University of Pittsburgh, 2702 Cathedral of Learning, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. ori@stat.pitt.edu
authors.forename: Ori
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: Ayala
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001827:Body Height; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D012737:Sex Factors