Growth at Adolescence among Boys of Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh

The present study is undertaken on school going children of mixed population of Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh with an aim to observe growth trends among them and locate the adolescent growth spurt for various growth characteristics. The present study is exploratory in nature, a cross sectional method has been employed to collect data from 320 boys aged between 10-17 years. Altogether 12 measurements like stature, sitting height, upper extremity length, lower extremity length, biacromial breadth, biiliocristal breadth, head length, head breadth, upper arm circumference, chest circumference, head circumference and weight are taken. Three out of four linear measurements i.e. stature, upper extremity length, lower extremity length show the peak velocities in the age group of 12+ years. Upper arm circumference shows higher magnitude of growth in the age groups 15-16 and 16-17, whereas 16-17 years are grow at least increment for chest circumference. Increments with regards to head circumference are evenly distributed throughout all the age groups. The composite measurement of weight shows a study and uniform progression through all the age groups with 16-17 years regarding the maximum increment. At conclusion present cross-sectional study indicates the nature of growth trends among boys shall help to draw a final conclusion regarding adolescent age group i.e. 10-17 years.