Comparison of physical growth of teenage girls with low birth weight and normal weight of Isfahan in 2016 – 2017

One of the probable risks of low birth weight (LBW) is low body growth at teenage, and most of the parents are concerned about it. This study was conducted to compare the body growth of girls at teenage in two groups.

In this descriptive‑comparative research, the body growth of 350 girls (250 students having normal birth weight (NBW) and 125 students having LBW) at the ninth grade in Isfahan, Iran, was studied. These students were chosen randomly out of 13 select schools from six districts of education in Isfahan, Iran. The data were analyzed by Independent t‑test, Chi‑square test, and Mann–Whitney U‑test.

This study showed that there is a meaningful difference in weight, height, BMI, and the age of menarche. The highest weight, height, and BMI frequency (52.8 kg, 162.8 cm, and 3.31, respectively) belongs to girls having NBW compared with girls having LBW (50.6 kg, 159.3 cm and 3.36, respectively) and Independent t‑test showed that weight and height average and body mass index (BMI) of girls having NBW are higher meaningfully (P < 0.001). In addition, the girls having NBW had reached the age of menarche at 12.36 ± 1.12 and 12.09 ± 1.01 at girls having LBW. Furthermore, there was a meaningful difference (P < 0.001) between the ages of menarche.

Regarding the existence, it is recommended that the children having LBW should be kept under special care. Of course, the resulted difference is not very important and concerning for the parents, but further study is needed to reach the final conclusion.