ADIPOSITY AND GROWTH - RELATIONSHIP OF STATURE AT 14 YEARS WITH RELATIVE BODY-WEIGHT AT DIFFERENT AGES AND SEVERAL MEASURES OF ADIPOSITY AND BODY BULK

A non-probabilistic sample of 354 healthy adolescents (182 boys and 17 2 girls) with ages ranging from 13.6 to 14.5 years was studied. Measur ements of mid-arm muscle, thigh and leg circumferences, triceps and su bscapular skinfolds, and records of body weight and height at one, fou r, six and twelve years of age were available. The sexual maturation s tage of all subjects was also determined. Height at fourteen years was found to be significantly associated with relative body weight at dif ferent ages in both sexes, and particularly with the relative weight a t twelve months. Height is more strongly related with indicators of le an body mass than with indicators of adiposity, especially in boys. Th e stage of sexual development is also an important determinant of stat ure at fourteen years of age. The results seem to support the hypothes is that the same factors which increase fat deposition, contribute to increase lean tissues and linear growth.