Somatic comparisons of South Korean children and youths born and reared in a rural area with the descendants of rural to urban migrants

Abstract

During April-May 2000 somatic data were collected on 236 males and 191 females ages 6, 9, 13, and 15 years residing in rural areas around the communities of Ankye, Euisung, and Kunwi in Kyungsang Puk Do province, South Korea, and 237 males and 219 female of the same ages born and reared at Taegu in families of "rural to urban migrants." Comparisons were made between urban and rural groups for measures of body size and form, skinfold thickness, the body mass index (BMI), and estimated arm muscle area (ARM). Age at menarche was obtained from school records for the 13- and 15-year-olds. The data were analyzed in separate 2 (urban-rural) x 4 (age) analyses of variance with an alpha level of P < 0.01. Age differences were significant for all dimensions. There was a significant main effect for urban-rural differences in arm girth, upper limb index, and ARM. Rural males were larger in these variables. Among females, only arm girth was significantly different. Age at menarche was significantly earlier in the urban sample (12.6 years) than in the rural sample (13.0 years). Compared with both recent and earlier data for South Korea, present-day 6-, 9-, 13-, and 15-year-old males and females are taller and heavier at every age, indicating secular gains.

Muscle Imbalance in Volleyball Players Initiates Scoliosis in Immature Spines: A Screening Analysis

“…Normative data for Korean children with regard to average height were sourced from the University of Minnesota international adoption clinic growth chart for Korean boys and girls. The average age of menarche was 12.5±2 years for Korean girls25,26.…”

The Influence of Household Size on Growth Pattern of Children Aged 5-12 Years from Kazaure Emirate, Jigawa State, Nigeria

“…Studies by Goldstein, (1971), Prasad et al (1971), Banik et al (1972), Eleveth and Tanner, (1991) concluded that children belonging to higher and middle socioeconomic groups are larger in body size than those in lower socio-economic groups. Kim et al (2002) also suggested that presumably, amenities that contribute to "quality of life" are, on average, more accessible to urban than to rural children. Studies by Rona and Chinn (1986), Berdasco (1994), Naidu and Rao (1994) showed that increase in anthropometric measurements is associated with the families having higher educational and income status.…”