Long-term change trend in physique development among Tujia and Miao children and adolescents,1985-2010

ObjectiveTo explore long-term change trend in physique development among Tujia and Miao children and adolescents during the period of 1985-2010 and to provide bases for improving and enhancing the growth and development of minority children and adolescents in destitute areas.MethodsThe data on height and weight of Tujia and Miao school students aged 7-18 years were collected from three cross-sectional surveys on physique and health among Chinese students conducted in 1985,2000,and 2010.Body mass index(BMI),maximum increment age in height(MIA-H),and maximum increment age in weight(MIA-W)of the Tujia and Miao students at different years were calculated and analyzed.ResultsDuring the period of 25 years,the average height increment of the students at the age of 7 to 18 years was 3.38 cm and 3.22 cm for Tujia males and females and 3.88 cm and 3.60 cm for Miao males and females;the average weight increment was 4.12 kg and 2.52 kg for Tujia males and females and 3.17 kg and 2.62 kg for Miao males and females;the average BMI increment was 1.22 kg/m² and 0.55 kg/m² for Tujia males and females and 0.71 kg/m² and 0.61 kg/m² for Miao males and females,respectively.A trend of slowing at younger age and accelerating at elder age in growth speed and a trend of sturdy in physique development were observed among the Tujia students;whereas a trend of accelerating at younger age and slowing at elder age in growth speed and a trend of slender body in physique development were observed among the Miao students.The key population for overweight and obese surveillance among the children and adolescents was the students at the age of 10-13 years.For all the students,the MIA-H and MIA-W increased by 0.40-3.98 years,except for the Miao males.A minor acceleration in height increment was observed in the students aged 18 years,with a gender difference of less than 13 cm in height increment.ConclusionThere is a long-term increasing trend in physique development among Tujia and Miao children and adolescents,with a rapid increasing stage for the Tujia and an initial stage for the Miao;there are also ethnic and gender differences in the long-term increasing trend among Tujia and Miao children and adolescents.