Final answer:
A child diagnosed with constitutional growth delay is likely to have a normal final adult height. Factors such as genetics and nutrition can influence height during puberty. Growth in height is slow during middle childhood but accelerates during adolescence.
Step-by-step explanation:
A child diagnosed with constitutional growth delay is likely to have a normal final adult height. Constitutional growth delay refers to a condition where a child's growth is temporarily slower than average, but they eventually catch up and reach their full height potential.
During puberty, both genetic and environmental factors can influence height. Girls generally start their growth spurt between 8 and 13 years old, while boys start slightly later. By adulthood, the average female is shorter than the average male due to differences in the timing and rate of growth.
Growth in height during middle childhood is slow and steady, with children gaining about 5.8 cm (2.3 in.) per year on average. However, most of the rapid growth occurs during adolescence.