Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Age- and maturity-related changes in body composition during adolescence into adulthood: the Fels longitudinal study
S S Guo1, W C Chumlea, A F Roche
1Department of Community Health, Wright State University School of Medicine, Yellow Springs, OH 45387-1695, USA.
Abstract:
We examined patterns of change in body composition from 8 to 20 yrs of age and the effects of rate of maturation on these patterns using serial data for total body fat (TBF). There is a continual increase, but a declining rate of change with age in TBF. For %BF the same pattern as for TBF exists for females, but for males the pattern of change in percentage body fat (%BF) reflects the concurrent changes in fat free mass (FFM). For FFM, there is an increase in females that slows at older ages, but in males there is a continual rapid increase until young adulthood. There is marked tracking for body composition persisting from childhood to adulthood. At the same age, rapidly maturing children have significantly larger TBF, %BF and FFM than slowly maturing children.
Related Concept Videos
Nature and Nurture
Longitudinal Research
The Effect of Aging on Tissues
Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
Three Developmental Domains
Physical Development
Physical processes, also known as maturation, encompass the biological changes that occur across an individual's life. These changes begin with genetic inheritance and continue through various stages, including growth in height and weight,...

