Gaining - and Growing - what's normal?

McKenzie K captures some typical feeling girls have as they adjust to the normal body weight and shape changes that accompany puberty: "I think I'm wide, but people say I'm not. I've got that hip kind of thing going on - you know, when you develop. You have to get used to it. It takes a while, but that's who you are."

As teens who are not overweight shoot up in height, it's healthy for them to gain some weight. According to Trim Kids by child weight expert Melinda Sothern, Ph D, and colleagues, it's normal for a child to gain an average of 3 to 5 pounds for every inch that he or she grows. For girls, the growth spurt usually begins between ages ten and twelve and ends anywhere from age seventeen to nineteen. (Some findings suggest, however, that puberty may be occurring earlier than in the past, particularly among African American girls.) Girls usually grow no more than a few inches after their menstrual period begins, which is usually at age twelve or thirteen.

For boys, the growth spurt typically begins when they're 12 to 14, and they usually finish growing at about age 20, although some grow in stature into their early twenties.

Girls usually have a spurt in weight gain 6 to 9 months before their rapid growth in height, which leads some slightly overweight girls and their parents to worry unnecessarily, as they will slim down when they grow taller. In general, girls gain weight most rapidly - typically about 40 pounds - between ages 10 and 14, then again another 10 pounds by age twenty. (Of course, it would not be healthy for a teen who is overweight to gain weight like this.)

For boys, the rapid weight spurt generally occurs at the same time as the height spurt. They gain most rapidly - typically about 45 pounds - between ages twelve and sixteen, then gain another 20 pounds by age twenty.

For girst, other normal changes that occur during puberty and result in the curvier shape of a woman can affect weight, including breast "budding" (which may begin around age 10 or even earlier), widening of the hips, narrowing of the waist, and some (normal!!) buildup of fat in the belly, backside, and legs,

For boys, changes in body shape include the broadening of shoulders and the growth of muscles.