Glossary · Growth

Weight-for-length

For infants and toddlers, comparing weight to length is more meaningful than weight alone. A child can be tall and lean (low weight-for-age, normal weight-for-length) or short and stocky (normal weight-for-age, high weight-for-length); the proportion is what pediatricians track for under-twos.

Related terms

BMI percentile (children)
Growth chart
Growth spurt
Catch-up growth
Failure to thrive
Childhood obesity

Miriel uses this concept across food scans, meal plans, and AI Coach responses where it is relevant to a child's profile. For the underlying clinical and scientific basis, see the research page.