Noticeable weight gain may occur prior to a growth spurt as excess fat helps promote growth. As a child goes through puberty, their stores of body fat may change. For example, girls tend to gain more fatty tissue in the hips, thighs and buttocks, while boys may have an increase in fat on their stomachs.
It's considered a normal transformation for girls to gain weight, particularly in the stomach area. What is this? Don't fret too much if you notice your daughter is gaining belly fat before puberty. It's all part of the growth plan.
Boys tend to look a little chubby and gangly (long arms and legs compared to the trunk) just prior to and at the onset of puberty. They start to experience a growth spurt as they progress further into puberty, with the peak occurring during the later stages of sexual maturation.
More significant weight gain is normal during the preadolescent ages of roughly 9 to 12 and adolescence – as a child matures into a young adult. It's not unusual for the body to store fat during this time as it prepares for the rapid growth and changes associated with puberty.
Most girls grow fastest about six months before they start their first period (menarche). You'll probably gain weight in puberty -- most girls do. You may notice more body fat along the upper arms, thighs, and upper back. Your hips will grow rounder and wider; your waist will become narrower.
Puberty – Increased hormones in a child's body during puberty (between the ages of 10 and 14 for girls and between the ages of 12 and 16 for boys) leads to growth and possible expansion of “baby fat” areas. This typically takes place in girls' belly, breast area and hips. Boys' shoulders will get broader.
Lean body mass in girls diminishes from approximately 80 percent to 75 percent by the end of puberty, while the amount of body fat increases. In comparison, the percentage of lean muscle mass in boys increases from about 80 percent to 90 percent by the time they reach adulthood.
Noticeable weight gain may occur prior to a growth spurt as excess fat helps promote growth. As a child goes through puberty, their stores of body fat may change. For example, girls tend to gain more fatty tissue in the hips, thighs and buttocks, while boys may have an increase in fat on their stomachs.
Children will outgrow the weight. Fact: Childhood obesity doesn't always lead to obesity in adulthood, but it does raise the risks dramatically. The majority of children who are overweight at any time during preschool or elementary school are still overweight as they enter their teens.
“It's normal for a child to slim down between ages 2 and 5,” says pediatrician Roy Kim, MD. “Your child will look their thinnest about the time they start kindergarten.”
As you go through puberty, you'll get taller, your hips will get wider, and your waist will get smaller. Your body also begins to build up fat in your belly, bottom, and legs. This is normal and gives your body the curvier shape of a woman.
You will not be able to build muscle until you are in puberty. Before puberty, lifting weights will tone your muscles, but you will not build muscles yet.
Body shape – Another sign of puberty in girls is changing body shape, particularly extra fat in the belly area (some call it “baby fat”). Weight gain can cause anxiety for girls.
Researchers have found that the number of fat cells in your body is set during adolescence and remains constant through adulthood, regardless of whether you gain or lose weight. The findings may help to explain why it can be so hard for some people to drop pounds and keep them off.
Many girls go through a chubby phase at 13 only because their bodies have stopped using so many calories for vertical growth, but their food intake hasn't changed. By adopting healthy habits now, your next growth spurt can leave you with a lean, athletic shape and a brand new lifestyle that will keep it that way.
Even so, most pediatricians and other healthcare providers will want to rule out a medical basis for rapid weight gain. More often than not, though, weight gain before and during puberty is related to a teen's stage of development, lifestyle, and/or daily food and eating habits.
Lifestyle issues — too little activity and too many calories from food and drinks — are the main contributors to childhood obesity.
Genetic influences
Research suggests that for some people, genes account for just 25% of the predisposition to be overweight, while for others the genetic influence is as high as 70% to 80%. Having a rough idea of how large a role genes play in your weight may be helpful in terms of treating your weight problems.
During Puberty Girls Grow Fast and Early
Girls go through puberty about two years before boys, starting in early adolescence (10-11 on average). Unlike boys, their fastest rate of growth occurs early in puberty. They also gain more fat than boys in preparation for their menstrual cycle.
Young children have weak rectus abdominis, better known as six-pack muscle giving rise to the swollen belly appearance. The strength of this muscle will improve with time, resulting in a less prominent belly.
Both males and females experience hormonal changes before the 1st physical signs of puberty are manifested. As sex hormones increase, changes in the body's proportion of lean, fat, and skeletal mass occur. For females an increase in body fat begins at 7 years and continues through ages 16-18 years.
Puberty in women normally occurs between 11 and 14 years of age. If a child reaches a particular weight (around 45 kg or 100 lb), the onset of puberty is triggered. The heavier the child, the earlier puberty occurs, possibly affecting risk of later disease.
Puberty ends for girls about 5 to 6 years after it starts. Puberty starts for most girls between the ages 8 and 10. This means that puberty ends for girls between the ages 14 and 16. But don't worry if you're a late bloomer!