Growth and development of 6965 children and adolescents in Shanghai

【Objective】 To study the growth and development status of children and adolescents in Shanghai. 【Method】 Height and weight were measured in 6 965 students(3 440 boys and 3 525 girls) from 11 primary and secondary schools in Shanghai during 2006. 【Results】 ①The height and weight averages and body mass index(BMI) percentiles were studied in 6 965 students.②In height curves,there appeared typical two crosses between boys and girls at the ages of 11 yeas and 12 years,while no cross appeared in weight curves.③In the subjects,916(572 boys and 344 girls) were detected as overweight,whereas 590(396 boys and 194 girls) were detected as obesity.There were significant differences in overweight and obesity between boys and girls(χ2=173.5,P0.01). 【Conclusions】 The growth and development of the children and adolescents are in accordance with the regular discipline.The level is tend to increase gradually.The prevalence of overweight and obesity in boys and preadolescent girls is higher than the national average.Effective intervention measures should be implemented to decrease the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children.