Body mass index and segmental proportion in children with different subtypes of psychosocial short stature

Abstract.

We describe change in height, segmental proportion and weight in 46 children (19 girls, 27 boys, all but four prepubertal) diagnosed by a multidisciplinary team as having psychosocial short stature (PSS) who had a change in their environment (31 were separated from their family). The classification of PSS has recently been modified to include appetite disturbance at presentation: hyperphagic (IIA), non-hyperphagic (IIB) and anorexic type (III). The 46 patients were subdivided into these three classifications and analysed separately concerning their auxology and change in body mass index before and after intervention. Although in all groups a significant improvement in height velocity SDS was seen after intervention, subtle differences in body proportions could be demonstrated. Proportional short stature was seen in both non-anorexic types of PSS (type IIA and type IIB) and did not change with intervention, whereas a significant change in body proportion was found in the anorexic type (type III). Body mass index at presentation was within normal limits and did not increase significantly in any of the three subgroups after intervention. Conclusion: the main diagnostic feature of psychosocial short stature is catch-up growth after change of environment which occurs in almost all patients. The classification on the basis of appetite disturbance was supported by our auxological data with specific differences in body proportions.