The Importance and Changes of Body Composition During Growth and Development

Abstract

Infancy, childhood and adolescence periods are considered critical periods of growth and development. Adequate and balanced nutrition is among the important factors that affect the growth and development. Changes in body weight during growth and development have long-term effects on health. For this reason, it is important to monitor the changes in body weight as of the fetal period. With growth and increasing age changes not only occur in the body weight but also in the body composition, and these changes differ with gender. Newborn boys have higher lean body mass, and newborn girls have higher body fat mass. The difference in the body compositions of boys and girls at birth increases up until puberty. Rapid weight gain during growth and development increases the risk of adulthood obesity, especially by causing an increase in body fat. During growth and development, body weight and body composition measurements should be taken and monitored at specific intervals, and the results should be compared to the appropriate standard growth curves. This is an important action in order to determine excessive or insufficient nutritional status in early periods. Therefore, in this review article changes in body weight and body composition during growth and development and their effects on health were discussed.