9 Signs And Symptoms Of Teenage Growth Spurts (2024)

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A teenage growth spurt is a phase characterized by a sudden increase in the teen’s height and appetite. This phase is marked by rapid changes in the body, and your teen’s height may grow rapidly for a few months and then slow down for the next few months. This cycle may continue for some years. A growth spurt is not just about physical changes but also hormonal, caused due to puberty. Therefore, a pubertal growth spurt may sometimes be overwhelming and difficult to handle. In such cases, teenagers may need parental support to get through the phase smoothly. This post discusses teenage growth spurt in detail and provides some tips on helping your child manage it efficiently.

At What Age Does Adolescent Growth Spurt Begin?

The occurrence of teenage growth spurt may vary from one child to another. Some experience it early, while others may have it late. Yet, on average, a major growth spurt during puberty usually happens between 8 and 13 years in girls and 9.5 and 14 years in boys (1).

While this phase of rapid growth in most girls ends by 15 years of age, it may continue until 16 or 17 years in boys (2). However, exceptions exist, as some teens, especially boys, may continue to grow until 18 years.

It is crucial to track your child’s growth and overall development during teenage growth spurts. You may use a growth chart for this.

Teen Boy And Girl Growth Chart: Age-Wise Average Height

A growth chart is an assessment tool that compares your teen’s height and weight with the standard average height for a specific age. It can help keep track of your teenage boy’sor teenage girl’sgeneral growth.

Average Height In Teenage Years

Note:

50th percentile height is the average or median height of a girl or boy. If your child is in the 50th percentile, it means that when 100 normal teens of their age and gender are compared, 50 teens are shorter, and 50 are taller than your child.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (3)

Research shows that the final height attainable by children is usually dependent on parental heights. In the graph below, the difference between a child’s height percentile and the target height percentile (based on his/her expected final height) is represented as the “height gap.”

Association between onset age of the pubertal growth spurt and height gap

Source: Association between the onset age of puberty and parental height; PLoS ONE

It shows that children showing a positive height gap (actual height percentile greater than target height percentile) have an early pubertal growth spurt (PGS), whereas children with a negative height gap show a delayed PGS.

What Causes Growth Spurt In Teens?

During adolescence, two sex hormones testosteroneⁱMale sex hormone required for the development of sexual and secondary sex characteristics, also found in females in trace amounts (in boys) and estrogenⁱA sex hormone responsible for the development of female sexual characteristics (in girls) cause a growth spurt. These sex hormones increase the human growth hormone secretion, which, in turn, causes an increase in mineralization of bones, leading to linear growth, i.e., an increase in height (4).

Signs Of Growth Spurt In Teenagers

You can identify growth spurt in your teenager if you observe the following signs.

1. Feet outgrow the shoes: Your teen’s growth begins from the extremities and works its way in. Therefore, your teen will first experience growth-related changes in the hands and feet. Research studies suggest that frequent changes in shoe size are an early indicator of a growth spurt (5) Thus, make a note of changes in the sitting height, leg length, and shoulder width that may corroborate your assessment (6).

2. New pants become short: If the teen complains about their new pants becoming short in a matter of months, it is likely due to a pubertal growth spurt. On average, a teenage boy could grow around three inches (7-8cm) a year during this period. The average gain in teenage girls is two to three inches (5-7.5cm) a year (7).

3. Clothes get tight: Clothes would become tight around the waist and thighs. This change may occur due to fat gain before a growth spurt. However, it may accelerate during puberty, leading to an increased weight gain around the waist, hips, buttocks, and thighs for girls and around the belly for boys (8).

4. Prominent joints with big bones: Various joints in the body become bigger and more prominent. Some of the more obvious joints are the knees, elbows, and wrists.

5. Increase in appetite:The tremendous physical and physiological changes during the pubertal growth spurt can increase their nutritional needs, and therefore, an increase in the teen’s appetite. The increase in appetite is more commonly observed in teenage boys than girls (9). Besides these prominent changes related to growth spurt, you may notice changes specific to puberty.

6. Strong body odor: Puberty causes an increased production of adrenal androgens leading to body odor (10) The presence of body odor usually indicates a growth spurt, and in some cases, it is evident in children with delayed puberty (11).

7. Change in voice: Research studies suggest that if a teen has developed a characteristic adult voice, it is likely that growth spurt is decelerating (12). However, more research is needed to validate the suggestion. A change in voice is more prominent in teen boys than girls.

8. Changes in the skin: Skin changes during puberty include the appearance of facial hair, oily skin, acne, and pigmentation caused by hormonal changes (13). These changes may become intense during a growth spurt.

9. Development of secondary sexual characteristics: Sexual maturation accelerates during the pubertal growth spurt. Some of the typical signs of sexual maturation are breast development, enlargement of testicl*s, and enhanced pubic hair distribution. These changes are not specific to growth spurts but are likely to be more noticeable around that phase.

All these changes, along with some other physiological changes, can have an impact on the teenager.

How Are Growth Spurts Diagnosed?

A child’s doctor tracks their height and weight during regular checkups using a scale and measuring tools. They may follow growth charts and child growth standards from the CDC and WHO to determine if a child is growing as expected compared to other children the same age. While a child’s height is to a large extent determined by the height of the parents, if the doctor notices a relatively high growth or a slow growth, they might monitor it closely over a few months. This helps determine if the reason is a health issue or if the change is just a normal variation (14).

How Does Growth Spurt Affect Teenagers?

The intense growth spurt phase of adolescent development can affect a teenager in various ways (15).

1. Clumsiness: Growth spurt causes the bones to lengthen while the muscles and tendons are still catching up with the growth. This variation in development can cause a lack of coordination that may increase the risk of injury (16). Encourage your teen to stay physically active–it will help in muscle development and also minimize the risk of injuries.

2. Growing pains: Teens might experience pain in the lower limbs due to rapid bone growth during the growth spurt. However, medical practitioners have different views on this (17). Some suggest that growing pain during adolescence could possibly occur due to a lack of or less physical activity.

3. Reduced sleep: Teenagers might sleep due to a shift in their biological clock caused by hormonal changes (18) caused by hormonal changes. However, this may not always be the case, as some teenagers might sleep more. Social media addiction and being on the phone may be secondary reasons for irregular sleep patterns in teens.

4. Frequent mood swings and irritable behavior: Mood swings and irritability are emotional changes that might occur due to stress and anxiety. Some common causes of stress/anxiety in teens are hormonal changes, sleep deprivation, peer pressure, and a struggle for freedom and control.

5. Exploring sexual orientation: It is often seen that teenagers get increasingly aware of their sexual orientation and might indulge in sexual activity. There is also likely to be increased interest in concepts of sexual intimacy.

6. Focus on their appearance: Teenagers can get more conscious about their appearance and body image. Physical appearance, social approval, and approval from the opposite gender could become crucial. This could lead to low self-esteem (if they are unable to get approval). Therefore, there could be an increased risk of developing eating disorders, such as anorexiaⁱAn eating disorder characterized by extreme weight loss and an intense fear of gaining weight and bulimiaⁱAn eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging through methods such as vomiting or laxative use , especially in girls. Eating disorders can lead to stunted mental and physical growth in the long run.
7. Social changes: Teenagers might experience social changes during this time, as they are concerned about their identity, independence, and responsibility. Moreover, many teenagers may actively seek out new experiences.
8. Cognitive changes: The adolescent brain undergoes a lot of growth and development in the teenage years. These changes allow your teenager to develop critical skills like abstract thinking, advanced reasoning, and metacognition.

While undergoing these changes, your teenager needs your help and support in this crucial stage of their life.

Tips To Help Your Teenager

Here are some ways you can support your child.

1. Have regular communication: Initiate conversations and encourage the teen to discuss their concerns. Your teen might hesitate to talk, but persistent efforts will bear results. You can also consult a counselor or an expert if needed.

2. Do not be judgmental: Avoid passing any judgments. Some problems that they have might sound trivial, but have patience and help resolve them.

3. Be a role model: If you wish to teach your child something, you should be a good role model. You cannot expect them to lead a healthy life if you aren’t doing the same.

4. Serve healthy food: Good nutrition is the foundation of a healthy body and mind. Serve well-balanced, wholesome meals to your teen. Keep lots of fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods in the house. Eat with your teen and support them in developing healthy eating habits.

5. Let your teen be responsible: While eating out, let your teen make responsible choices. Discuss their health and diet concerns with a nutritionist.

6. Encourage physical activity: Encourage your teen to do some physical activity regularly. Plan an outing together where you can indulge in activities, such as hiking, swimming, jogging, or walking. It will help them stay within a healthy weight range and boost their self-confidence.

7. Avoid comparisons with peers: Avoid comparing your teen’s weight or height with their peers since such comparisons can have detrimental effects on their cognitive and social development. Besides, it can make them self-conscious.

8. Do not be too pushy: Avoid being pushy, especially about sleep and wake up time. Therefore, let your child come up with a sleep and wake cycle. Help them sleep and wake up early, but do not push them to do it in a few days.

9. Give your teen space: Giving space to your teen is important. It will help them have their independence while knowing that you have their back. Always keep the channel of communication open to display your love and support.

10. Give them sex education: Adolescent sexuality is something that you should talk about with your teen upfront. Providing sex education to your teen not only resolves their curiosities but also makes them aware of various issues such as sexual activity and teenage pregnancy.

Nutrition During A Teen’s Growth Spurt

During the rapid growth phase of puberty, consuming a well-balanced and nutritious diet is crucial for ensuring proper growth and normal development. During early adolescence, boys may require 2,800 calories per day to support their growth and development, while girls may need 2,200 calories per day (19). Their growing bodies also need vitamins and minerals to grow well (20).

• Protein: Protein is crucial for overall growth and helps in muscle development and repair. Choose lean proteins like legumes, nuts, soy, eggs, turkey, fish, and chicken. Meat is a good source of iron, which is especially important for girls who are menstruating.
• Vitamin D and calcium: Calcium and vitamin D are important for strong and healthy bones. Eggs are a good source of vitamin D, while cheese, milk, yogurt, nuts, and leafy greens are good sources of calcium.
• Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are a vital energy source. Excellent sources include starchy vegetables, whole grain breads, pasta, and cereals.

Note that consuming too much of certain proteins, fats, minerals, and vitamins might cause early puberty. On the other hand, not getting enough essential proteins, calories, fatty acids, and key nutrients like iron, zinc, and vitamin D can significantly slow down or delay the start and progress of growth and bone development during this important period of growth (21).

Growth Vitamins For Teenagers

Alongside a balanced diet, certain vitamins play crucial roles in facilitating this growth. Here are some essential vitamins that are particularly beneficial for a teenager’s growth (22).

1. Vitamin A: It contributes to healthy night and color vision while also supporting regular growth, promoting skin health, and aiding in tissue repair.
2. B vitamins: These are beneficial for promoting the production of new cells and supporting metabolism.
3. Vitamin C: It aids in the production of collagen, a key component in the formation of teeth and bones as well as in the healing of wounds. Additionally, it enhances the immune system’s function.
4. Folic acid: Particularly crucial during growth spurts, folic acid aids in metabolism and the production of new cells.

When To Consult A Doctor About Your Teen’s Growth Spurt?

The rate of growth spurt depends on several inter-twinning factors such as heredity, diet, exercise, and health issues. Nevertheless, there are specific cases where it is ideal to consult a doctor (23).

1. If you feel that your teen is growing at a significantly different pace than his or her peers.

2. Unusually early onset of puberty. In medical terms, this condition is known as precocious puberty. A child with this condition will experience sexual development at an early age. For girls, it would be before the age of eight years, and for boys, it is before the age of nine years (24).

3. A marked delay in growth or sexual development. Growth hormone deficiency is one of the causes of delayed puberty. The deficiency can cause the teen to have a short stature when compared to the average predicted height for their age (11).

4. A sudden change in appetite that does not seem right.

5. Body image problems where a teen believes that they are overweight when they are not. This case is usually more common in girls than in boys and can be a sign of an eating disorder.

6. Signs of mental health concerns, such as depression, extreme mood swings, anxiety, hostility, and argumentative behavior.

7. Poor academic performance, such as failing. Avoiding school and activities that your teen otherwise enjoyed.

8. Use of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco.

Consulting a doctor can help in the timely detection of any medical issues.

The teenage growth spurt is when your children’s bodies undergo significant changes. These changes, such as a sudden growth in height, the development of sexual traits, mood swings, and other significant changes, can be overwhelming. Therefore, it’s important to educate children about this phase and the changes that come with it. Remember that each child is unique and will experience growth spurts at different ages. But if the deviation is drastic or abnormal, affecting their physical and emotional state, consult your child’s doctor to determine any underlying cause and seek timely help.

Are you noticing your teen growing taller? Check out this video to learn the 13 tell-tale signs that your teen is going through a growth spurt!