Final answer:
Warren, a fourteen-year-old, is experiencing the adolescent growth spurt, a rapid period of growth in height and weight during puberty, controlled by various hormones. This phase also includes development in body composition, sexual characteristics, and brain development.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fourteen-year-old Warren is experiencing an adolescent growth spurt, which is a period of rapid growth in both height and weight that occurs during puberty. Biology explains that this spurt is controlled by an interaction of hormones, including growth hormones, thyroid hormones, and sex hormones. These hormonal changes not only contribute to increases in stature and mass but also lead to significant changes in body composition and body proportions.
During the adolescent growth spurt, boys typically see the onset of increased growth in external genitals and pubic hair, while girls will begin developing breasts and pubic hair. Eventually, girls experience menarche, the start of menstruation, as another step in the puberty process. Both genders may see huge increases in height, sometimes growing up to 3 inches per year.
It's important to note that the rate of growth in weight generally follows behind the surge in height, with boys experiencing this lag by about three months and girls by about six months. Additionally, even though the brain doesn't grow much in size during adolescence, it does undergo considerable development, particularly in the prefrontal cortex.