children s health issues
Physical Growth and Sexual Maturation of Adolescents
Physical Growth in Adolescents
For height and weight charts for children 2 years of age and older, seegrowth chartsfrom the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There is a growth spurt during adolescence. The growth spurt in boys occurs during mid-adolescence between the ages of about 12 years and 16 years (most commonly about age 13½) and usually begins a year after the testes start enlarging. Boys grow about 4 inches (about 10 centimeters) during their year of maximum growth. The growth spurt in girls occurs in early adolescence between the ages of about 9½ years and 13½ years (most commonly about age 11½). Girls grow about 3½ inches (about 9 centimeters) during their year of maximum growth. In general, boys weigh more and are taller than girls. If the timing of growth is not typical, particularly in a boy whose physical development is delayed (see Delayed Puberty ) or a girl whose development occurs early (see 