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Review
. 2025 Mar;42(3):1291-1311.
doi: 10.1007/s12325-024-03061-y. Epub 2025 Feb 5.

Considerations for Anthropometry Specific to People with Disproportionate Short Stature

Julie Hoover-Fong  1 , Oliver Semler  2 , Bobbie Barron  3 , Paulo Ferrez Collett-Solberg  4 , Ellen Fung  5 , Melita Irving  6 , Taichi Kitaoka  7 , Celide Koerner  8 , Keita Okada  9 , Katja Palm  10 , Sérgio B Sousa  11 , Klaus Mohnike  10
Affiliations
Review

Considerations for Anthropometry Specific to People with Disproportionate Short Stature

Julie Hoover-Fong et al. Adv Ther. 2025 Mar.

Abstract

In the clinical care of people with disproportionate short stature, healthcare practitioners need to accurately collect anthropometric measurements over time, including height, weight, head circumference, and lengths of affected limb and body segments. Accurate anthropometric measurements are important for diagnostic evaluation, tracking growth, measuring response to pharmacologic therapies or surgeries, and monitoring for potential complications. However, for this clinical population, anthropometric measurements may need to be adjusted or modified to accommodate characteristics such as body disproportions, joint contractures, long bone deformities, spinal deformities, or muscle hypotonia. This article provides guidance for key anthropometric measurements in children and adults with disproportionate short stature, with a focus on people with achondroplasia. The measurements described in this article and illustrated in the infographics can be performed without expensive specialized equipment and are suitable for a variety of clinical settings.

Keywords: Achondroplasia; Anthropometry; Body composition; Disproportionate short stature; Growth; Obesity; Short stature; Skeletal dysplasia.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of Interest: Julie Hoover-Fong has received honoraria from Ascendis, BioMarin, Innoskel, Medscape, QED Therapeutics, and Tyra for consulting, advisory board, and/or speaking for educational purposes, and participated as an investigator in clinical trials funded by Alexion, BioMarin, QED Therapeutics and Therachon/Pfizer. Oliver Semler has received speaker honoraria and travel support from BioMarin. Bobbie Barron is an employee of and receives funding from the Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, which is funded by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences through the Clinical & Translational Science Awards Program, grant number UL1TR003098. Paulo Ferrez Collett-Solberg has received speaker honoraria and travel support from BioMarin and from producers of recombinant human growth hormone. Ellen Fung was previously a consultant to BioMarin, and now receives grant funding from BioMarin for a research study of vosoritide in patients with mucopolysaccaridosis. Melita Irving has received honoraria from BioMarin for speaking, for participating in advisory board meetings, and as a member of the vosoritide experts steering committee. Taichi Kitaoka has received honoraria for lectures from BioMarin. Celide Koerner has no conflicts of interest to report. Keita Okada has received honoraria for lectures and travel support from BioMarin. Katja Palm has received speaker honoraria and travel support from BioMarin, and travel support from producers of growth hormone. Sérgio B. Sousa has received honoraria from BioMarin, Kyowa Kirin, and Ascendis for speaking, for participating in advisory board meetings, and for travel support; and participated as an investigator in achondroplasia clinical trials funded by Ascendis and Therachon/Pfizer. Klaus Mohnike has received honoraria from BioMarin, Novo-Nordisk and QED/Biogridge for speaking, for participating in advisory board meetings, and as a member of steering committees. Ethical Approval: The pilot study briefly described in this commentary was conducted in accordance with ethical principles that have their origin in the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the JHMI Institutional Review Board.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Anthropometric measurement techniques for infants with achondroplasia: body length and crown–rump length
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Anthropometric measurement techniques for infants with achondroplasia: head circumference
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Anthropometric measurement techniques for toddlers and school-aged children with achondroplasia: standing height and sitting height. Note that the same techniques are also used for these measurements in adolescents and adults who are able to stand independently
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Anthropometric measurement techniques for toddlers and school-aged children with achondroplasia: arm span. Note that the same techniques are also used for these measurements in adolescents and adults who are able to stand independently
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Anthropometric measurements for adults with achondroplasia: umbilical waist circumference [adapted from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES): Anthropometry Procedures Manual. 2021; https://wwwn.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhanes/public/2021/manuals/2021-Anthropometry-Procedures-Manual-508.pdf]
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Anthropometric measurements for adults with achondroplasia: maximal hip circumference
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Anthropometric measurements for adults with achondroplasia: neck circumference
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
Anthropometric measurements for adults with achondroplasia: upper arm length [adapted from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES): Anthropometry Procedures Manual. 2021; https://wwwn.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhanes/public/2021/manuals/2021-Anthropometry-Procedures-Manual-508.pdf]
Fig. 9
Fig. 9
Anthropometric measurements for adults with achondroplasia: upper arm circumference [adapted from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES): Anthropometry Procedures Manual. 2021; https://wwwn.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhanes/public/2021/manuals/2021-Anthropometry-Procedures-Manual-508.pdf]
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