Comparing Somatotype of Han Male Children and Younth in Western Urban and Countryside Area of Liaoning Province

Objective This paper is to analyze somatotype growth rules and characteristics of Han male children and youth in west rural area of Liaoning Province so as to supplement essential data for physical anthropology.Method The somatotype of 1323 Han nationality male children and youth(urban 657,countryside 666) were selected to make a comparison using Heath-Carter somatotype method.Results The average value of somatotype was 3.9~3.5~3.4 in urban male which belonged to medial type,3.6~2.5~3.7 in rural area which belonged to ectomorph-endomorph balanced type.The height of rural boys is lower 5.93cm(u=6.24;P0.01),the weight is lower 5.75kg(u=6.93;P0.01) than urban boys.Compare the average value of three somatotype factors,in terms of endomorphy,urban male was higher than rural male;as for ectomorphy,urban male was lower than rural male,but there was not significant difference(P0.05) between them;as far as Mesomorphy was concerned,urban male was higher than rural male,and there was significant difference(P0.05).There appeared to be significant difference among 7,8,11,13 and 15~18 year groups(P0.01).Conclusions Urban male is higher,thinner,stronger in terms of skeletal and muscle and richer in subcutaneous fat than boys in the countryside.The body fat of boys of Han nationality in western area of Liaoning Province was comparatively high.