Congress, MAGIC Call for Early Detection and Awareness of Children's Growth Patterns

PLAINSBORO, N.J., Sept. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The MAGIC (Major Aspects of Growth In Children) Foundation^®, a nonprofit organization that provides support services for the families of children afflicted with a wide variety of chronic and/or critical disorders, syndromes, and diseases that affect a child's growth, is proud to support, in partnership with Novo Nordisk, the first nationally recognized Growth Awareness Week.

This is a significant milestone for children everywhere because it puts a national spotlight on the need for parents to better educate themselves on proper growth patterns. Monitoring growth is one of the most important ways to determine if a child is healthy,^[1] and growth may be an overall sign of their health and physical development.

"As the mother of a child who was affected by growth hormone deficiency, I know firsthand how important it is for parents and caregivers to be aware of the early warning signs related to irregular growth so they can identify a potential issue while there is still time for positive medical intervention," said Mary Andrews, chief executive officer of the MAGIC Foundation. "This is a major accomplishment to build awareness and help people understand the significance of growth disorders in children."

The resolution was introduced by Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), who said he understands the challenges of raising awareness about healthy growth. "Too many children with serious growth disorders are not receiving the medical attention they need because their condition is not caught at an early age," Senator Kirk said. "Growth Awareness Week is a key tool for educating families about appropriate growth patterns so children in the early stages of a serious problem can receive the treatment they need."

The MAGIC Foundation has a variety of helpful tools, such as a measurement guide and growth chart that can help guide one's conversation with a doctor. Parents and caregivers can visit magicfoundation.org to learn more about the importance of measuring their child's growth patterns and discussing any potential issues with their doctor. 

About The MAGIC Foundation
The MAGIC Foundation is a national nonprofit organization committed to reducing the emotional and physical trauma caused by growth disorders and seeks to provide a vital support network for families affected by growth disorders at every step of their journey, from parents' pre-diagnosis concerns to adults who were impacted by these disorders as children.

MAGIC was created to provide support services for the families of children affected with a wide variety of chronic and/or critical disorders, syndromes and diseases that affect a child's growth. Services include online tools to monitor a child's growth patterns, information on disorders known to cause irregular growth, and networking with families who have had similar experiences. For more information, visit magicfoundation.org.

About Novo Nordisk 
Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk is a global health care company with 90 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. The company also has leading positions within hemophilia care, growth hormone therapy, and hormone replacement therapy. For more information, visit www.novonordisk-us.com or follow our news in the United States on Twitter: @novonordiskus.

© 2014 Novo Nordisk   All rights reserved.   0814-00022956-1    September 2014

^[1] Oostdijk W, Grote FK, de Muinck Keizer-Schrama SM, Wit JM. Diagnostic approach in children with short stature. Horm Res 2009;72:206–217.

SOURCE Novo Nordisk