title: Prediction of adult height in girls: the Beunen-Malina-Freitas method.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to validate and cross-validate the Beunen-Malina-Freitas method for non-invasive prediction of adult height in girls. A sample of 420 girls aged 10-15 years from the Madeira Growth Study were measured at yearly intervals and then 8 years later. Anthropometric dimensions (lengths, breadths, circumferences, and skinfolds) were measured; skeletal age was assessed using the Tanner-Whitehouse 3 method and menarcheal status (present or absent) was recorded. Adult height was measured and predicted using stepwise, forward, and maximum R (2) regression techniques. Multiple correlations, mean differences, standard errors of prediction, and error boundaries were calculated. A sample of the Leuven Longitudinal Twin Study was used to cross-validate the regressions. Age-specific coefficients of determination (R (2)) between predicted and measured adult height varied between 0.57 and 0.96, while standard errors of prediction varied between 1.1 and 3.9 cm. The cross-validation confirmed the validity of the Beunen-Malina-Freitas method in girls aged 12-15 years, but at lower ages the cross-validation was less consistent. We conclude that the Beunen-Malina-Freitas method is valid for the prediction of adult height in girls aged 12-15 years. It is applicable to European populations or populations of European ancestry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Kinesiology, Faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Gaston P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Beunen
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Malina
authors.forename: Duarte L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.forename: Martine A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Thomis
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.forename: Albrecht L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Claessens
authors.forename: Elvio R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Gouveia
authors.forename: Hermine H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lefevre
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D001827:Body Height; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008572:Menarche; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D044465:White People