The adolescent growth spurt of boys and girls of the ... - PubMed
Research on twins suggests that while genetics play a major role as children approach maturity, environmental factors (nutrition and health) have a stronger influence on limb proportions during the rapid growth phase of early adolescence (ages 6–14). leggy teen
Several scientific papers and reviews cover this phenomenon: Biological and Growth Pattern Studies The adolescent growth spurt of boys and girls of the
Research published in Nature Scientific Reports explains that the adolescent growth spurt is highly standardized, typically peaking when a child reaches 90% of their final adult height . A longitudinal study in the Annals of Human
A longitudinal study in the Annals of Human Biology found that distal segments (like feet and lower legs) usually reach their peak growth velocity before more proximal segments (like the thigh), contributing to the "leggy" appearance. Factors and Implications
Papers in PMC indicate that youth athletes undergoing rapid lower limb growth may face a higher incidence of growth-related injuries due to these changing proportions.