Decreased final height of children with growth deceleration secondary to poor weight gain during late childhood.

Eighteen healthy, short children with normal growth during most of their childhood were evaluated after a sustained fall in weight and reduced linear growth. Growth was followed after nutritional counseling until final height. This report demonstrates the need for an appropriate-for-age weight gain in growing children as a relatively minor but prolonged caloric restriction, leading to a sustained fall in weight centiles, will affect growth velocities long term and may lead to reduced final heights.