Puberty (cont.)
What other changes in the body occur during puberty?
The "growth spurt"
A rapid increase in height, referred to as a growth
spurt, usually accompanies puberty. About 17%-18% of adult height is attained
during puberty. Although the increase in height affects both the trunk and the
limbs, growth in the limbs usually happens first. The growth spurt
characteristically occurs earlier in girls than in boys, with girls having the
growth spurt approximately two years prior to boys, on average. In girls, the
growth spurt typically precedes the onset of menstruation by about six months.
Bone growth and mineralization
Puberty is accompanied by growth of bones and
increases in bone density in both boys and girls. In girls, bone mineralization
peaks around the time of the onset of menstrual periods, after the time of peak
height velocity (growth spurt). Studies have shown that bone width increases
first, followed by bone mineral content, and lastly by bone density. Because of
the lag between bone growth and achievement of full bone density, adolescents
may be at increased risk for fractures during this time.
Weight changes
Changes in weight and body composition occur in both boys and
girls. Adolescent girls develop a greater proportion of body fat than boys, with
redistribution of the fat toward the upper and lower portions of the body,
leading to a curvier appearance. While boys also have an increase in the growth
of body fat, their muscle growth is faster. By the end of puberty, boys have a
muscle mass about one and a half times greater than that of comparably sized girls.
Other changes
Maturation of the cardiovascular systems and lungs results in
an increased working capacity of these organs, associated with an overall
increase in endurance and strength. These changes are more pronounced in boys
than in girls.
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