Individual growth of stature of Japanese.

The growth of individual's stature of the Hiroshima Growth Study was characterized from early childhood to adulthood. The samples used here were 2,567 males and 971 females. A Gompertz type growth model was used for characterizing both an individual and an average growth of stature. The expected amount of information per observation was evaluated which was useful for designing an observation scheme in physical growth study. An approach, to detect an undersirable individual growth and the changes of growth, was proposed for characterizing individual growth by estimating unknown parameters of the growth model based upon his longitudinal measurements. The average growth of population was considered by the use of the estimates of growth parameters for each individual. The distributions of statures at each age, the distributions of ages attaining special characteristics of growth, and the distribution of growth increments after the onset of adolescence have been included.