The association of birthweight with length at 12 mo and with height at
different ages was assessed in a sample of 260 healthy adolescents (1
30 boys and 130 girls). The longitudinal study included measures on bo
dy weight and height at 4, 6, 12, and 13 yr of age. Birthweight is hig
hly correlated with stature at 14 years, particularly in male adolesce
nts. Longitudinal principal components analysis (LPCA) showed that it
is also correlated with the growing process. There is also strong evid
ence that birthweight can be a good predictor of the onset of the pube
rtal maturation process.