title: Physical growth and sexual maturation of boys in Chapaevsk, Russia.
abstract: We characterized physical growth and sexual maturation in 2,579 boys, ages 10 through 16.99 years, residing in Chapaevsk, Russia in order to establish region-specific reference data. Age-specific norms were established for height, weight, and BMI, and compared to US reference data by z-score analysis, while mean heights and weights by age were compared to published national Russian data. Compared to US boys, height was slightly lower (overall z-score -0.18) at all ages except the oldest (16-16.99 yr), while weight and BMI were moderately lower (overall z-score -0.52 and -0.61, respectively). Chapaevsk boys were significantly taller (1.15 cm) and thinner (-1.28 kg) than the broader Russian sample. The median ages of stage 2 genitalia and pubic hair development were 11.9 and 12.7 years, respectively. In conclusion, Chapaevsk boys are thinner than both US and Russian boys, and have a later onset of puberty and attainment of sexual maturity than boys from other countries.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Endocrine Division, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Mary M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Oleg
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sergeyev
authors.forename: Paige
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Korrick
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zeilert
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Revich
authors.forename: Russ
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hauser
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000254:growth & development; D006128:Growth / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011153:Population; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012426:Russia; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000502:physiology*