A Longitudinal Study on Body Height of Students Aged 7-18 Years in Anhui Province from 1985 to 2005

Objective To describe the long-term changing trends of body height among 7-18 years old students in Anhui from 1985 to 2005,and to provide baseline information for researches on their growth and development.Methods Changing trends of height and growth speed were analyzed among students aged 7-18 in Anhui by using data of Physical Fitness and Health Surveillance of Chinese School Students in 1985,1995 and 2005.Results From 1985 to 2005,body height increased in all age groups,and the increasing range of rural boys was the highest.Average growth rate decreased gradually among urban boys,urban girl and rural girls,while the growth rate of rural boys increased gradually and exceeded rural boys in 2005.Average growth rate of all the students decreased yearly after 14 years old and the rate of boy decreased significantly than that of girls.Conclusion Body height of students aged 7-18 years in Anhui continually increase with declined growth rate but it increases slowly among the students aged 18 years.