Normative Values for the Growth and Development of Morphological Characteristics in Students Aged 12, 13, 14, and 15 in Kosovo

Monitoring adolescent growth is important for understanding public health trends, especially in the regions and countries where national reference data are still missing, such as Kosovo. The aim of this study was to establish age- and sex-specific reference values for height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) among school-aged stu- dents in the Republic of Kosovo and to compare these values with World Health Organization (WHO) growth stan- dards. The study included 1,950 students (997 boys and 953 girls), aged 12 to 15 years, selected from a nationally representative sample. Standard anthropometric methods were used, and BMI was categorized based on WHO criteria. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, and percentile calculations (P1–P99) were performed. The results showed a linear increase in height, weight, and BMI across all age groups. No significant gender differences were found at ages 12 and 13, but from age 14, boys were significantly taller and heavier. Compared to WHO references, height values were mostly similar, except for slightly lower height in 13-year-old boys, while BMI values were consistent- ly higher in both sexes from ages 12 to 14. A high percentage of students, especially boys, were categorized as overweight or obese. Further research is needed to determine whether the higher BMI reflects increased fat mass or lean body mass.