A Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Growth

Abstract

A Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Growth reports the findings of a longitudinal study of the growth of 200 schoolboys and 100 schoolgirls through the course of adolescence. As well as height and weight, about a dozen other physical measures were studied or related to each other and to the staging of sexual characteristics. These values are analysed according to both the chronological age and age based on a common pubertal characteristic of peak height velocity. The range of magnitude and timing of pubertal events is described and compared for boys and girls. These recent data are compared with previous European and North American longitudinal studies, notably those of Tanner conducted over 20 years ago. In addition new information is provided which contrasts growth of two large cohorts of boys in different geographical and social settings, and compares the growth patterns of thin and exogenously obese subjects and of early and later maturers. 1 The Background to the Study -- Subjects -- Presentation of Results -- References -- Figures and Tables -- 2 Height and Height Velocity -- Findings -- Discussion -- References -- Figures -- 3 Weight and Weight Velocity -- Findings -- Discussion -- References -- Figures -- 4 Growth of the Limbs and Trunk -- Findings -- Discussion -- Reference -- Figures -- 5 Shoulders and Hips, Elbows and Knees -- Findings -- Discussion -- Figures -- 6 Fat -- Findings -- Discussion -- References -- Figures and Table -- 7 Limb Circumferences and Lean Body Mass -- Findings -- Discussion -- Figures -- 8 Pubertal Changes -- Findings -- References -- Figures and Table -- 9 Bone Age Studies in a Selected Group of Leeds Boys -- Methods -- Findings -- Discussion -- References -- Figures and Tables -- 10 Comparison of Growth of Two Cohorts of Schoolboys in Different Settings -- Subjects and Methods -- Possible Contributory Factors to Growth Variation Between the Groups -- Findings -- Discussion -- References -- Figures and Tables -- 11 Prediction of Ultimate Stature -- Prediction of Ultimate Stature on the Basis of Bone Age Estimations -- Prediction of Residual Growth and Ultimate Height on the Basis of Pubertal Staging -- Variation in Height Increments Dependent on Age at Puberty -- References -- Figure and Tables -- 12 Urinary Gonadotrophins -- Results -- Discussion -- References -- Figures -- 13 Comparison of Growth Characteristics of Children of Differing Degrees of Fatness and Differing Weight/Height Relationships -- Classification of the Subjects According to Methods Based on Total Skinfolds or Quetelet's Index at the Age of PHV -- Findings -- Conclusions -- References -- Figures and Tables -- 14 Growth Characteristics of Early and Late Developers -- General Considerations -- Findings -- Conclusions -- Reference -- Figures and Tables -- 15 Comparisons with Other Studies -- Heights and Weights -- Components of Stature and Girth -- Skinfold Measurements and Estimates of Fatness -- Lean Body Mass -- Timing and Magnitude of Pubertal Changes -- Ultimate Height and Predictive Factors -- The Effects of Degrees of Fatness on Growth and Puberty -- Growth Differences of Early, Average and Late Developing Children -- Conclusion -- References -- Tables -- Appendices -- Appendix 1 Participating Schools -- Appendix 2 Centile Distributions of Measurements -- Appendix 3 Acknowledgements -- References.