Adolescent growth spurt among rural Indian boys in relation to their nutritional status in early childhood.

Abstract

The growth pattern of 677 rural Hyderabad boys aged between 13 and 18 years was studied over a year (1977-78) to obtain annual increments. These boys had earlier been studied over a four-year period (1965-69). Height for age at 5 years in relation to Boston standards was used to classify these subjects into four nutritional categories. The group that had experienced severe growth retardation in early life achieved a peak height velocity (6.9 cm/yr) similar to that of British boys (7.3 cm/yr), though the event was postponed by 2 years--from 14 years to 16 years. Height growth from 5 years to 17.5 years (62 cm) was comparable with that of Western boys (63 to 66 cm). However, increase in weight was lower (29 kg) than in Western boys (44 to 48 kg). Height deficits observed at age 5 continued into adolescence and weight deficits increased. As a consequence, the group that was shortest at age 5 continued to be shorter and lighter at 17-18 years of age.