Disproportional Increase in Forced Vital Capacity Related to that in Body Surface Area During Puberty

Changes in forced vital capacity (FVC), as a indirect measure of pulmonary size, and changes in body surface area, as an indirect measure of body size, were investigated with the purpose of analyzing growth during puberty. Changes in lean body mass, as a measure of increase in tissue with a pronounced oxygen demand, were additionally investigated. Changes in FVC, height, weight and skin fold thickness of 205 healthy children of both sexes were analyzed. Longitudinal study started at 11.5 and finished at 14.5 years. FVC increased faster than body surface area and lean body mass. During the deceleration of body surface area and lean body mass growth, FVC continued to grow at the same rate. The findings confirmed the thesis of latency in lung growth related to body growth.