Dr Phil Kieran: Help me reassure my son about what height he'll be

My 14-year-old son is small for his age and very self-conscious about it. He's also put on weight around his tummy. I've told him he will catch up with the other boys in his class in time, but he is convinced that he'll always be short and overweight. What would you suggest?

Dr Phil Kieran: "To estimate a boy's future height, take the parents' height in cm and add 13cm to the mother’s height. Add the two and divide by two to find the average (for girls, you subtract 13cm from the father’s height)"

Height and weight can be delicate subjects, particularly in boys, where schoolyard teasing can be merciless.

To reassure you, most children I see who are not growing at the same pace as their peers end up being completely normal. They are just starting their growth spurt later.