A Study on Physique and Maximum Growth Age of Korean Youth in an Urban Area

일부 도시지역 청소년들의 성장 발육과 최대 성장 발육 연령에 관한 연구

In order to assess the physical growth and development, and nutritional status of primary, middle and high school students in the city of Seoul, physiques of 4, 041 persons(Male : 2, 096, Female: 1, 945) were measured from March 1 to July 31 in 1995 and variouis physical and nutritional indices, maximum growth age related to them were calculated. The results are as follows: 1. Physical Growth and Development The growth of body height showed straight linear development among male in the ages 7~16 and among female 7~14, and after that showed slower development. The age of cross over between two sexes was between 11.5 to 12.5 years of age. The maximum growth age was between 11 and 12 years of age(7.28cm) in male and between 11 aqnd 12 years of age(9.77cm) in female. In terms of body weight, it also showed straight linear development among male in the ages 7~16 and among female 7~14, and after that showed slower development. The maximum growth age was between 11 and 12 years of age(7.64kg) in male and between 11 and 12 years of age(8.l9kg) in female. In terms of chest girth, it showed two step development among male in the age of 7~13 and 13~17, and among female in the age of 7~14 and 14~17. The age of cross over between two sexes was 11 and 12 years of age. In terms of sitting height, it showed two step development in the age of 7~14 and 14~17 of both sexes and the age of cross over between two sexes was between 10.5 to 14.5 years of age. The maximum growth age was between 11 and 12 years of age(3.64cm) in male and between 11 and 12 years of age(5.98cm) in female. 2. Maximum Growth Age of Physical Growth and Development In body height, MGA was 10.59 for male and 10.34 for female which showed that MGA for both sexes appeared in similar periods. In body weight, MGA was 10.30 for male and 10.30 for female which showed that MGA for both sexes appeared in similar periods. In chest-girth, MGA was 14.74 for male and 11.60 for female which showed that MGA for female appeared about 3 years earlier than for male. In sitting height, MGA was 11.69 for male and 11.38 for female which showed that MGA for both sexes appeared in similar periods. Maximum growth ages of physiques appeared in order of body height 〉 body weight 〉 sitting height 〉 chest-girth.