Introduction

Each year, large numbers of parents become concerned that their children are shorter than their peers or seem to be falling behind. Five percent of children under age 14, or about three million, fall below the normal range on the growth charts. It is also common for parents of children below the normal range to be worried enough about their child's growth to request referral to a specialist.

Until now, these parents have had no authoritative source for information to either reassure them or guide them in seeking help for their child. In this groundbreaking book, two of the country's top pediatric endocrinologists provide concerned parents with thorough, up-to-date information on the issues surrounding the diagnosis and treatment of growth disorders, including:

• The role of genetics, nutrition, and hormones in normal growth
• When parents should and should not be concerned about their child's growth pattern
• The most up-to-date information on treatments, including the controversial use of growth hormones
• And much more.