[Longitudinal physical development of healthy children 0 to 18 years of age. Body length/height, body weight and growth velocity].

In addition to the Dortmunder longitudinal growth study we investigated development of height, weight and height velocity in 213 healthy boys and girls 15-18 years old. Number of children decreased in the age group of 17 and 18 years old to 143. The study was performed in a longitudinal way, the measurements were taken in an one year distance. The median height gain in boys between 15 and 18 years amounted to 9.3 cm, in girls to 2.1 cm, respectively. 18 years old boys are 180.1 cm tall, girls 167.9 cm. The median increment of body weight in boys from 15-18 years amounted to 7.3 kg, in girls 4.4 kg, respectively. Median weight in 18 years old boys amounted to 65.2 kg, in girls to 58.0 kg. International comparison with other longitudinal growth studies shows a trend of somewhat higher weight, height and height velocity of the children from our study.