Long-term trend in change of growth among children and adolescents of Hui, Uygur, Zhuang, and Korean

Objective To explore the characteristics and long-termtrends in changes of growth among the children and adolescents of Hui,Uygur,Zhuang,and Korean between 1985 and 2005 in order to provide a scientific basis for improving minority youth's growth and development.Methods Prmiary and secondary students of Hui,Uygur,Zhuang,and Koreanaged from 7 to 18 years were selected and their height,weight,body mass index (BMI),the maxmium increment age (MIA),the growth at different stages,and gender difference were examined and analyzed.Results For the growth of all students of Hui,Uygur,Zhuang,and Korean in the past 20 years,the increment of height was from 3.76 to 6.10cm for schoolboys and 1.62 to 4.81cm for schoolgirls;the increment of weight was from 3.37 to 7.03kg for schoolboys and 1.95 to 5.42kg for schoolgirls; the increment of BMI was from 0.71 to 1.72 kg/m² for schoolboys and 0.36 to 1.43 kg/m² for schoolgirls.ExceptHui students,the students.MIA increased one to three years than before.The height of the students of 18 years old were increased,but without significant difference compared to that of before and the gender difference was less than 13cm.Conclusion The growth of Hui,Uygur,Zhuang students is at the early stage of long-term increase and the Koreanstudents is at the rapid stage.The long-term growth potential of the students of fourm inorities is obvious.