In this paper , we address the aforementioned gaps in the literature using longitudinal data on children from Ethiopia , India , Peru , and Vietnam . In particular , we investigate a wide range of child , household , and community - level predictors of growth recovery and faltering at different periods from conception through early adolescence . A methodological innovation of our study is that we employ different estimators , including panel data estimators that deal with bias arising from fixed unobservables and a new measure of accelerated growth that addresses limitations of existing measures . We also examine whether the incidence , timing , and persistence of growth recovery , as measured by recovery from stunting , through middle childhood are significantly associated with cognitive achievement in this period and whether these associations persist through early adolescence .