Abstract
As for the adolescent growth of height and weight from the cross sectional growth studies, age at peak height velocity (APHV) generally comes earlier than age at peak weight velocity (APWV) in both sexes. The longitudinal data on the individual growth was examined on 16 boys and 21 girls. Peak velocities and ages at peak velocity were calculated by differentiating spline functions by which the growth curves were approximated. APHV and APWV were chronologically arranged in each individual. This arrangement was named 'sequence' in this study.
The mean values of APHV were 12.6 years of age in boys and 11.5 years of age in girls and those of APWV were 13.6 years of age in boys and 12.6 years of age in girls. Thus, on an average, the sequence was APHV and APWV in order as reported by many authors. Approximately 20% of children examined, however, had a reversed sequence where APWV came earlier than APHV. It was suggested that growth gradient of physical characteristics had a individual variation.
