ABSTRACT
Adolescence is the period in which physical, mental and social maturation occurs and it is an important transit stage, changing from childhood to adulthood. This is a period in which important changes occur physically such as rapid growth in height and weight gain but significant differences in growth may occur for the same age. Therfore, the degree of sexual maturation may be an important indicator in evaluating growth in adolescence. Six thousand five hundred and eighty six male and female students from grade 4 to senior high from Seoul, district town and countryside were evaluated for sexual maturity using Tanner staging, weight, height and body mass index and compared for growth. There was a rapid growth in height of 6.7cm in boys between the ages of 11 and 14 years and 6.3 cm in height for girls between the ages of 10 and 12 years, showing earlier growth in height for girls. Growth in height according to sexual maturation showed the greatest growth during stages 2~3 for boys and girls. Boys grew an average of 18.94 cm and girls an average of 18.03 cm in height during the whole sexual maturation period. There was an increase of 5.5 kg in weight for boys during the same age as for growth in height, that is between 11 and 14 years of age. In girls, an average weight gain of 5.1 kg occurred between 11 and 13 years of age, slightly later than that of growth in height. Rapid gain in weight occurred during Tanner stages 2~3 for girls. Total gain of 20.70 kg for boys occurred during the whole sexual maturation period while girls gained total 19.73 kg. Body mass index increased gradually during the whole adolescent period. It was greater in boys during the ages of 9 and 12 years and greater in girls the age of 13 years and again in boys after 17 years of age. During the whole maturation period, boys gained 3.24 and girls, 4.05 of body mass index showing more gain in girls. Height, weight and body mass index showed normal variations during the sexual maturation index showed normal variations during the sexual maturation period and the results may bring an increased understanding that adolescent physical growth was closely related to sexual maturation.