PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - K B Lall
AU  - S Singhi
AU  - M Gurnani
AU  - P Singhi
AU  - O P Garg
TI  - Somatotype, physical growth, and sexual maturation in young male smokers.
AID  - 10.1136/jech.34.4.295
DP  - 1980 Dec 01
TA  - Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
PG  - 295--298
VI  - 34
IP  - 4
4099  - http://jech.bmj.com/content/34/4/295.short
4100  - http://jech.bmj.com/content/34/4/295.full
SO  - J Epidemiol Community Health1980 Dec 01; 34
AB  - One thousand school boys aged 8 to 16 were examined for their somatotype, physical growth, sexual maturation, and smoking habits. Fifty-two boys were found to be smokers, of whom 30 were regularly smoking between two and 20 bidis or cigarettes a day for a mean duration of 2.5 years. The mean height and weight of the smokers was significantly lower than that of the non-smokers at all ages, more so in regular than occasional smokers. Sixty-nine per cent of the smokers had mesomorphic type of body build; about 65% of the non-smokers had ectomorphic somatotype (P less than 0.001). Onset of puberty occurred significantly earlier among smokers compared with non-smokers, as was evident from the early appearance of genital stage 2, and an early and rapid increase in testicular size. Genital stage 2 appeared at a mean age of 11 years in smokers and 11.6 years in non-smokers. However, the appearance of pubic, axillary, and facial hair was delayed. The possible significance of this is discussed.