They tend to grow most quickly between ages 12 and The growth spurt of boys is, on average, about 2 years later than that of girls. By age 16, most boys have stopped growing, but their muscles will continue to develop. Normal growth — supported by good nutrition, enough sleep, and regular exercise — is one of the best overall indicators of your teen's good health. Despite data collected for growth charts, "normal" heights and weights are difficult to define.
Your teen's growth pattern is largely determined by genetics. Shorter parents, for instance, tend to have shorter kids, whereas taller parents tend to have taller kids. Although you may worry if your child isn't as tall as other classmates, the more important question is whether your child is continuing to grow at a normal rate.
If your doctor detects a problem — such as a growth rate that had been normal but has recently flattened — he or she may track your child's measurements carefully over several months to see whether the growth pattern suggests a possible health problem or is just a variation of normal.
It's not unusual for teens to have their own concerns about how they're growing and how they look. Girls can be very critical of their own weight, which can sometimes lead to unhealthy body image concerns and dieting practices.
Boys tend to be more concerned with their height and muscle development, which can also lead to unhealthy practices, like using steroids and protein supplements. If you're concerned about your teen's body image, or eating and exercise habits, talk with the doctor. Many teens worry a lot about being different from their peers and about anything that would make them not fit in or seem "normal. Sometimes, though, people pass this normal age range for puberty without showing any signs of body changes.
This is called delayed puberty. Doctors usually can help teens with delayed puberty develop so they can catch up with their peers. These changes are caused by the sex hormones — testosterone in guys and estrogen in girls — that your body is making in much larger amounts than before. Most often, it's simply a pattern of growth and development in a family.
A guy or girl may find that his or her parent, uncle, aunt, brothers, sisters, or cousins developed later than usual, too. This is called constitutional delay or being a late bloomer , and it usually doesn't need treatment. These teens in time will develop normally, just later than most of their peers. Some people who don't go through puberty at the normal time have problems with their chromosomes, which are made up of DNA that contain our body's construction plans.
Problems with the chromosomes can affect normal growth processes. For example:. The good news is that if there is a problem, doctors usually can help teens with delayed puberty to develop more normally. If you're worried that you're not developing as you should, ask your parents to make an appointment with your doctor. Often, doctors find no underlying physical problem. Most teens with delayed puberty are just developing a bit later than average and will catch up. If doctors do find a problem, they might send a teen to see a pediatric endocrinologist , a doctor who specializes in treating kids and teens who have growth problems, or to another specialist for further tests or treatment.
Some late bloomers struggle with waiting for the changes of puberty to start. So doctors may offer hormone treatment:. After treatment ends, a teen's own hormones usually take over to complete the process of puberty.
If they don't, the doctor will discuss long-term sex hormone replacement. It can be tough to watch your friends grow and develop when the same thing's not happening to you. You may feel like you're never going to catch up. Main Content. Important Phone Numbers. Top of the page. The signs of a growth spurt include: Increased appetite. A child's nutritional needs increase before and during periods of rapid growth. An increase in bone and muscle growth. An increase in the amount of fat stored in the body.
During the first year of life, growth spurts typically occur during the following ages: 7 to 10 days 3 to 6 weeks Now and then up to 1 year of age.
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