OBJECTIVE: To know the changing trend of physical growth of Chinese children and compare their nutritional status with that of ten years ago. METHODS: Random cluster sampling was used and 157,362 healthly children were classified into 22 groups according to location (urban and rural), sex(boy and girl), and age (0-7 years). RESULTS: As compared with the results in 1985, the mean weight, height and sitting height were significantly increased. The chest and head circumference in most age groups were slightly improved. The urban-rural difference in weight and height reduced. The children in northern and central china were heavier and taller than those in southern China though the regional gap is narrowing in this respect. CONCLUSION: The condition of growth and nutrition of children 0-7 years from urban and suburban rural areas has been much improved. The growth speed of rural children has caught up or surpassed that of their urban peers.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To know the changing trend of physical growth of Chinese children and compare their nutritional status with that of ten years ago. METHODS: Random cluster sampling was used and 157,362 healthly children were classified into 22 groups according to location (urban and rural), sex(boy and girl), and age (0-7 years). RESULTS: As compared with the results in 1985, the mean weight, height and sitting height were significantly increased. The chest and head circumference in most age groups were slightly improved. The urban-rural difference in weight and height reduced. The children in northern and central china were heavier and taller than those in southern China though the regional gap is narrowing in this respect. CONCLUSION: The condition of growth and nutrition of children 0-7 years from urban and suburban rural areas has been much improved. The growth speed of rural children has caught up or surpassed that of their urban peers.