title: Association between head circumference and body size.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Studies on the association between head circumference (HC) and height or weight have shown variable results.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using data from the Dutch nationwide survey performed in 1997 (n = 14,500), we calculated correlations for different ages, and fitted a regression model for the estimation of HC. HC versus height charts were created for different age groups. Data from children from other ethnic groups and children with various growth disorders were plotted on the charts and compared with reference data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Correlations between HC and height or weight showed similar patterns: highest at birth, followed by a rapid decline to a stable level and a peak in adolescence. On charts containing the regression line ±2 standard deviations for subjects aged 0-2 months and 2 months to 21 years, Turkish and Moroccan children, as well as children with idiopathic short stature and small for gestational age, had a normal HC for height, whereas children with an insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor defect or Sotos syndrome showed trends towards a smaller or larger HC for height, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HC correlates strongly with height and weight. The charts of HC for height may serve as an additional tool to interpret HC in short or tall children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Erica J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Geraedts
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van Dommelen
authors.forename: Janina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Caliebe
authors.forename: Remco
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ranke
authors.forename: Stef
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: van Buuren
authors.forename: Jan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wit
authors.forename: Wilma
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Oostdijk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics; D049628:Body Size / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics; D001835:Body Weight / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D006257:Head / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000473:pathology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D008297:Male; D009018:Morocco / Q000208:ethnology; D009426:Netherlands; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014421:Turkey / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult