Every teenager will experience a period of getting taller and gaining weight. Girls usually start this spurt at age 10 or 11, but sometimes earlier or later. Since girls start their growth spurt earlier than boys, it's not unusual for many girls in your class to be taller than most of the boys.

For some, this spurt may be a steady period of growth. Others may grow rapidly and seem to stop growing, only to start up again months down the road. When you start your growth spurt and how long it lasts depends on your genes (when your parents, especially your mother, started her growth spurt), your racial and ethnic background, and your overall health. At the end of your growth spurt, you'll be your adult height.

You may be developing at a rate different from your friends, but try not to get upset about your body doing what it's supposed to do - GROW and CHANGE! Eat well, exercise regularly, and get lots of sleep to help your body reach its adult form.

While you're busy growing, what's happening with the boys?

Boys usually start their growth around age 12 or 13, a year or two after the girls. But most boys grow faster than girls and can easily make up for starting later by growing 3 or 4 inches a year! You'll also notice your male friends' voices getting deeper and their bodies getting more muscular. Boys in puberty also start getting hair on their upper lips and chin.