Secular changes in stature and body mass index for Chinese youth in sixteen major cities, 1950s–2005

Abstract

Evidence shows a secular trend in physical growth in China in recent years. We analyze the secular trend of stature and body mass index (BMI) for the period 1950s-2005 to provide biological evidence for policy-makers to identify measures for improving Chinese children's health. Data come from the historical records in 1950s and the successive cycles of the Chinese National Survey on Student's Constitution and Health. Subjects were 7- to 18-year-old youth from 16 cities. Sex-age differences in mean stature and BMI values between the surveys were analyzed, and the increments per decade were compared. An overall positive secular trend was found in 1950s-2005. Mean stature of the 18-year olds increased from 166.6 to 173.4 cm for males and from 155.8 to 161.2 cm for females, yielding rates of 1.3 and 1.1 cm/decade; the overall increments of BMI values were 2.6 for males and 1.8 for females, yielding rates of 0.8 and 0.6/decade, respectively. The most significant changes occurred during puberty. The overall positive secular trend is closely associated with the socioeconomic progress and the improvement of livelihood. Strong evidence suggests that in China this trend will be continued for many years. Further studies are needed to explore how to ensure healthy changes for poorer rural youth. Effective preventive strategies and measures should be taken to prevent the progressive increase in the prevalence of childhood obesity accompanying this trend.

Secular Changes in BMI and Obesity Risk in Japanese Children: Considerations from a Morphologic Perspective

“…The increase in BMI seen in the current study is consistent with the global trend across the second half of the 20th century [9][10][11]. An earlier study of 6-12 year-old Japanese children measured in 1989 and also in 2001/02 reported a rapid increase of children with a BMI above the age-and gender-specific 95th percentile cut-off point [20].…”

Epidemic increase in overweight and obesity in Chinese children from 1985 to 2005

“…On a more positive note, some reversed changes in the female adolescents in groups VII and VIII are noticed ( Table 3). Because of the secular growth trend in the meantime, with a faster increase in height than weight, the BMI temporarily decreased, especially in females [28]. V) Since 2000, the prevalence in combined overweightobesity category in the male children in groups I and IV appears to approach the average level of the developed countries, though that of obesity (especially for adolescent girls) remained much lower [29].…”

Physical growth of children and adolescents in China over the past 35 years

“…This has been accompanied by a positive trend in the physical growth of children. 33 An empirical division of China's economic development into stages based on the time cycle of China growth surveys facilitates the analysis of its association with trends in children's growth. In Stage I (before 1975) -out of scope of this analysis -a previous subtle upward trend in growth ceased and even reversed owing to the detrimental effects of famine.…”

“…8 The areas were categorized from highest to lowest economic status as large coastal cities, high, medium or low cities, high, medium or low rural areas and poor western rural areas.…”

“…5,6 Child-growth assessments are useful not only for monitoring a population's nutritional status, but also for gauging inequalities in human development among different populations. 7 Although many growth and nutrition surveys among children and adolescents have been carried out in China, 8,9 few have tried to link trends in child growth and nutrition to changes in economic development. One study that evaluated the effects of China's economic reforms on the growth of children showed an increase in the average height of children in both rural and urban areas.…”