Observations of the changes in standing height at the time of puberty

In an investigation of the growth patterns of 76 children attending an orthodontic clinic, measurements of standing height were used to study the adolescent growth spurt. Growth curves were fitted to the data by a graphical method, and also by fitting a Preece-Baines model. Both methods produced similar values for age at peak height velocity (PHV), but the graphical method produced higher values for peak velocity. Compared to the results obtained by fitting Preece-Baines curves to a sample from the Harpenden data, the South-east Essex children appear to be attaining significantly higher peak velocities. There was, however, no real difference in the values for age at PHV.