Cole et al developed equations for estimating a child's target adult height based on the z-scores of the parental heights.
Parameters:
(1) height of father in cm
(2) height of mother in cm
(3) mean height for adult males in cm
(4) standard deviation for height in adult males in cm
(5) mean height for adult females in cm
(6) standard deviation for height in adult females in cm
z-score for father =
= ((height of father) - (mean for males)) / (standard deviation for males)
z-score for mother =
= ((height of mother) - (mean for females)) / (standard deviation for females)
target z-score = midparental z-score for parents =
= ((z-score for father) + (z-score for mother)) / 2
conditional target height z-score =
= (target z-score) * 0.72
target height for child =
= ((target z-score) * (standard deviation for gender)) + (mean height for gender)
conditional target height for child =
= ((conditional target z-score) * (standard deviation for gender)) + (mean height for gender)
The confidence intervals are 1.6 times the standard deviation for gender.
Limitations:
• Reliable population data for height needs to be available.
