 |
|
Table of Contents | Abstract & Objectives | page 1 | page 2 | page 3
page 4 |page 5 |page 6 | page 7 |page 8 | page 9 | page 10
page 11 | References | Websites | Test
During adolescence, children experience a rapid increase in height and weight. This
growth spurt is highly variable, generally lasting 24-36 months. Females typically
experience this growth spurt one-and-one-half to two years earlier than males and on
average grow 23-28cm. Male average growth is 26-28cm. The growth spurt ends with
epiphyseal closure, which is under the influence of the sex steroids. Males experience a
2-year delay in bone closure as compared to females, and this accounts in part for their
greater growth in height. In addition to increases in height, teens experience increases in weight. About 50% of
adult ideal body weight is gained during puberty. Adolescent male weight gain primarily
reflects an increase in lean body mass. In contrast, adolescent females experience an
increase in percentage of body fat and a decrease in percentage of lean body mass. Body structures also have dissimilar growth rates. The first structures to reach their adult
size are hands, feet and head. Leg length reaches its peak before body breadth. This
sequence of growth can give teenagers a long-legged appearance and lead to clumsiness
and tripping (Tanner, 1972). The tremendous variability in the onset of growth can be very anxiety provoking for
adolescents who are shorter than their peers. It is reassuring for them to know that final
adult height is not affected by the timing of pubertal onset. Adolescents with simple
delayed puberty, and therefore delayed growth, will have the same opportunities to reach
normal adult height as their peers (Rosen & Foster, 2001).
Previous: Secondary Sexual Development
© 2002 American Nurses
Association
The Adolescent Growth Spurt
Next: Cognitive Development
CATALOG ABOUT CE VIEW CART LOG BACK IN WHAT'S NEW WELCOME CE HOME NURSINGWORLD HOME
Bookstore | NursingMall
| Get CE updates via e-mail