NUTN 411:

Human Growth and Development

Introduction

Justina Serwaah Owusu, PhD, RDN

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Introduction: Growth and

development

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 Outline
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Introduction: Growth and development

Factors affecting growth and development
Role of nutrition in growth and development
Measurement of growth
Reference standards in growth measurement
Environment, nutrition and early child
development 3
 Learning objectives
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▪Define growth / development

▪ Describe the common characteristics of
growth and development.

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 Growth and development (1)
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•Growth and development have different

meanings
•Growth
oquantitative increase in size or mass.
oMeasurements of height in centimeters or weight in
kilograms indicate how much growth has taken place in a
child.

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 Growth
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o“an increase in physical size”.

o“physical increase in some quantity over time”
o“an increase in size or the amount of an entity”
o“change in size, in proportion, disappearance of
old features and acquisition of new ones

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 Growth and development (2)
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•Development:
othe progression of changes, either quantitative or
qualitative, that lead from an undifferentiated or immature
state to a highly organized, specialized, and mature state.

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 Growth and development (2)
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•Development:
o“progressive acquisition of skills and the capacity to
function”.
o“the series of changes which an organism undergoes in
passing from an embryonic stage to maturity”
o“the progressive change in size, shape and function
during the life of an organism by which its genetic
potential are translated into functioning adult system.”
o “lifelong process of physical, behavioral, cognitive, and
emotional growth and change”
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 Characteristics of growth
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•Refers to physiological changes.

•Changes produced by growth are subjects of measurements. They may be
quantified and observable in nature.
•Quantitative: can be measured in inches or centimeters, pounds, or kilograms..
•Does not continue throughout life; stops after maturation.

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 Characteristics of growth
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•Cellular; Occurs due to the multiplication of cells.

•One of the part of the developmental process.
•May be referred to describe the changes in particular aspects of the body and
behavior of the organism.
•May or may not bring development.

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 Characteristics of development
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•Refers to overall changes in the individual.

•Involves changes in an orderly and coherent type towards the goal of
maturity.
•Changes in the quality along with quantitative aspect.
•Continues throughout life.
•Progressive.
•Occurs due to both maturation and interaction with the environment.

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 Characteristics of development
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•Qualitative and proceeds from the general to the specific.

•Describes the changes in the organism as a whole.
•Brings qualitative changes which are difficult to measure directly. They
are assessed through keen observation of behavior different situations.
•Possible without growth.

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 Certain universally accepted
characteristics of growth and
development.
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•Occur in an orderly pattern from simple to complex

•Continuous processes characterized by spurts and periods of slow, steady growth
•Progress at highly individualized rates that vary from child to child.
◦ Individuals have their own growth timetables, and one child’s pattern of growth should
not be compared to another’s.

•Affect all body systems but at different times for specific structures.
•Form a total process that affects a person physically, mentally, and socially.

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