Question

During the middle and late childhood years, children gain about 5 to 7 pounds a year. The weight increase is due mainly to increases in the______

Answer 1

Children's weight gain during middle and late childhood is mainly due to increases in muscle and bone density, alongside the accumulation of body fat, especially in girls.

Step-by-step explanation:

During the middle and late childhood years, children typically gain about 5 to 7 pounds a year. The weight increase is due mainly to increases in muscle mass, bone mass, and for girls particularly, body fat. Data suggest that weight growth is closely linked with height growth, but also the physical growth involves developing more muscle and bone density throughout these years. Notably, during adolescence, children will experience a growth spurt in both height and weight, with girls experiencing this spurt earlier than boys. Furthermore, this period of growth reflects not only increases in size but also the body's ongoing development, preparing for the changes that occur during puberty