Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (540 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
The series of changes to the shape, size, components, and functions of an individual organism that occur over time as the organism progresses from its initial form to full size and maturity.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Development and Growth.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Physiological Phenomena
- Narrower topics
- Aging; Biomineralization; Growth; Human Development; Morphogenesis; Plant Development; Sexual Development
- See also
- Developmental Biology; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 1,768,532 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Growth and Development” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 340,330 of them (19.2%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2010-2019 with 559,204 records.
Reviews account for 162,895 records (9.2%) and meta-analyses for 7,350. Randomized controlled trials number 29,704 (1.7%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 514,695 |
| 2000-2009 | 354,303 |
| 2010-2019 | 559,204 |
| 2020 onward | 340,330 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 162,895 | 9.2% |
| Meta-analyses | 7,350 | 0.4% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 29,704 | 1.7% |
Method: PubMed query "Growth and Development"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in anatomy and physiology
Anatomy describes how body structures are built and physiology describes how they normally work, so most findings here are descriptive or mechanistic rather than evidence about treatment. Much of what is known comes from dissection, imaging, tissue studies and experiments in animals, and measurements in healthy volunteers can differ from those in people with disease or at different ages. Normal ranges vary between individuals and populations. Check whether a result was measured in people or in another species, the age and health of the participants, and the method used.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reframing the epidemiological transition as increasing returns to tackling aging-related diseases | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42687019 · DOI · PMC13577912 |
| The RNA helicase domain of NAT10 promotes the biogenesis of hypomodified ribosomes to enhance cancer cell proliferation | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42702606 · DOI · PMC13547379 |
| How Does Weight Stigma Impact Healthcare Settings? Evidence From Chilean Patients Seeking Healthcare | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42702778 · DOI · PMC13547589 |
Reframing the epidemiological transition as increasing returns to tackling aging-related diseases [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Global life expectancy has risen since 1973 from 58 to over 73 years, while the share of people aged 65 years and older has doubled to 10% and is projected to reach 21% by 2073.
- Closing excerpt
- The implications of this recasting of the epidemiological transition for health systems and aging research are discussed.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (151 words)
Global life expectancy has risen since 1973 from 58 to over 73 years, while the share of people aged 65 years and older has doubled to 10% and is projected to reach 21% by 2073. This shift is linked to an epidemiological transition from infectious to chronic disease. Here, using Global Burden of Disease data, we reframe this transition by statistically grouping diseases on the basis of their impact over the life cycle, yielding four clusters: infant, early-adult, later-adult and aging-related. We show aging-related diseases are the largest part of the current global disease burden and the greatest lifetime burden for a newborn, even in low-income countries. Aging-related diseases possess two distinctive properties: a tight link between mortality and morbidity, and increasing returns, whereby reductions in their prevalence makes further gains even more attractive. The implications of this recasting of the epidemiological transition for health systems and aging research are discussed.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42687019 · DOI · PMC13577912
The RNA helicase domain of NAT10 promotes the biogenesis of hypomodified ribosomes to enhance cancer cell proliferation [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- N-acetyltransferase 10 (NAT10) is a multifunctional enzyme that harbors RNA acetyltransferase and RNA helicase domains and has emerged as a therapeutic vulnerability in solid and hematological malignancies.
- Closing excerpt
- These findings uncover a mechanism by which NAT10 promotes cancer cell proliferation and establish its RNA helicase domain as a potential therapeutic target.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (163 words)
N-acetyltransferase 10 (NAT10) is a multifunctional enzyme that harbors RNA acetyltransferase and RNA helicase domains and has emerged as a therapeutic vulnerability in solid and hematological malignancies. By coupling Proteolysis Targeting Chimera-mediated degradation of NAT10 with a deep mutational scanning assay, followed by validations in biochemical assays, human cell lines, and female mouse xenografts, we find that the RNA helicase domain of NAT10 enhances cancer cell proliferation and tumor growth. This proliferative function of NAT10 is independent of RNA acetylation but requires its RNA-binding activity. The RNA helicase domain of NAT10 is required for 18S rRNA binding, promoting biogenesis of the 40S ribosomal subunit, while simultaneously interfering with the deposition of the conserved 18S rRNA modification m¹acp³Ψ. Loss of m¹acp³Ψ in 18S rRNA enhances cancer cell proliferation, revealing that NAT10 promotes the biogenesis of hypomodified ribosomes to facilitate tumor growth. These findings uncover a mechanism by which NAT10 promotes cancer cell proliferation and establish its RNA helicase domain as a potential therapeutic target.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42702606 · DOI · PMC13547379
How Does Weight Stigma Impact Healthcare Settings? Evidence From Chilean Patients Seeking Healthcare [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- IntroductionWeight stigma in healthcare settings refers to the prejudiced devaluation of individuals with higher body weight, often manifested through causal attribution comments.
- Closing excerpt
- These findings highlight the importance of implementing public policy reforms and providing training for healthcare professionals.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (226 words)
IntroductionWeight stigma in healthcare settings refers to the prejudiced devaluation of individuals with higher body weight, often manifested through causal attribution comments. This stigma reflects a complex interplay of psychological and behavioral processes that may contribute to outcomes such as medical avoidance.ObjectiveTo determine whether weight stigma in healthcare settings is directly associated with internalized weight stigma, uncontrolled eating, and medical avoidance, and whether these associations are mediated through a serial pathway culminating in healthcare avoidance.MethodA cross-sectional study was conducted with 309 healthcare users in Chile (Mage = 37.72 years; SD = 15.68; 75% women), using self-report measures and structural equation modeling.ResultsAll direct effects were significant, except for the path between weight stigma and uncontrolled eating. The serial mediation via internalized weight stigma and uncontrolled eating was supported (βindirect = 0.041, p 0.046; 12.06% of the total effect), as was the simple mediation via internalized stigma alone (βindirect = 0.071, p = 0.048; 20.88%). Mediation through uncontrolled eating alone was not significant (βindirect = 0.013, p = 0.239). The total effect of weight stigma in healthcare settings on medical avoidance was significant (βTotal = 0.340, p ConclusionWeight stigma in healthcare settings negatively impacts psychological and behavioral health. Addressing weight stigma is essential to reducing avoidance behaviors and improving continuity of care. These findings highlight the importance of implementing public policy reforms and providing training for healthcare professionals.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42702778 · DOI · PMC13547589
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Efficacy of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Weight Loss, BMI, and Waist Circumference for Patients With Obesity or Overweight: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, and Meta-regression of 47 Randomized Controlled Trials [4]
- Research article Weight regain after cessation of medication for weight management: systematic review and meta-analysis [5]
- Research article Aerobic Exercise and Weight Loss in Adults: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis [6]
- Research article Discontinuing glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and body habitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis [7]
- Research article Sex Differences in the Efficacy of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists for Weight Reduction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis [8]
- Research article Intermittent fasting strategies and their effects on body weight and other cardiometabolic risk factors: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials [9]
References
- Ashwin J, Bloom DE, Lee N, Piot P, Scott AJ. Reframing the epidemiological transition as increasing returns to tackling aging-related diseases. . 2026. PMID 42687019 · DOI · PMC13577912
- Dalhat MH, Narayan S, Eleftheriou M, Russell J, Heslop J, Serio H, et al.. The RNA helicase domain of NAT10 promotes the biogenesis of hypomodified ribosomes to enhance cancer cell proliferation. . 2026. PMID 42702606 · DOI · PMC13547379
- Bastías-González F, Gómez-Pérez D. How Does Weight Stigma Impact Healthcare Settings? Evidence From Chilean Patients Seeking Healthcare. . 2026. PMID 42702778 · DOI · PMC13547589
- Wong HJ, Sim B, Teo YH, Teo YN, Chan MY, Yeo LLL, et al.. Efficacy of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Weight Loss, BMI, and Waist Circumference for Patients With Obesity or Overweight: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, and Meta-regression of 47 Randomized Controlled Trials. Diabetes Care. 2025. PMID 39841962 · DOI
- West S, Scragg J, Aveyard P, Oke JL, Willis L, Haffner SJP, et al.. Weight regain after cessation of medication for weight management: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 2026. PMID 41500720 · DOI · PMC12776922
- Jayedi A, Soltani S, Emadi A, Zargar MS, Najafi A. Aerobic Exercise and Weight Loss in Adults: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis. JAMA Netw Open. 2024. PMID 39724371 · DOI · PMC11672165
- Berg S, Stickle H, Rose SJ, Nemec EC. Discontinuing glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and body habitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev. 2025. PMID 40186344 · DOI
- Yang Y, He L, Han S, Yang N, Liu Y, Wang X, et al.. Sex Differences in the Efficacy of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists for Weight Reduction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Diabetes. 2025. PMID 40040445 · DOI · PMC11880690
- Semnani-Azad Z, Khan TA, Chiavaroli L, Chen V, Bhatt HA, Chen A, et al.. Intermittent fasting strategies and their effects on body weight and other cardiometabolic risk factors: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials. BMJ. 2025. PMID 40533200 · DOI · PMC12175170
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.