title: The LMS and Z scale growth reference for Saudi school-age children and adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish L, M, and S parameters and z score reference for the assessment of nutrition and growth of Saudi school-age children and adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the original cross-sectional study were reanalyzed. The L, M, and S parameters and z scores were calculated for weight, height and body mass index for school-age children and adolescents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 19,299 subjects from 5 to 18 years of age were included. All were Saudi nationals and 9,827 (50.9%) were boys. The L M S parameters and z scores for weight for age, height for age, and BMI for age for boys and girls are presented in detailed tables across the age of commonly used z scores (+3, +2, +1, 0, -1, -2, -3). Graphs corresponding to the same parameters (weight, height, and BMI) showing the main z scores across all ages from 5 to 18 years are illustrated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This report provides the first reference for nutritional status and growth of Saudi school-age children and adolescents. This tool is essential for more accurate assessment of growth and nutrition in various clinical conditions and research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh 11461, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammad I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: El Mouzan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, King Khaled University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh 11461, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdullah A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Al Salloum
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Al Yamama Hospital, Riyadh 11555, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mansour M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Alqurashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Al Habib Medical Group, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdullah S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Al Herbish
authors.affiliation: The Children Hospital, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al Omar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D057238:Growth Charts; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012016:Reference Values; D012529:Saudi Arabia