A study on physical growth and development of high school students in an urban area.

A survey on 4,117 (Boys:2,004, Girls:2,113) High School students in an urban area was conducted for assessing their physical growth, development and nutritional status from may throuth june 1971, and the following results were obtained. 1. Physical Growth and Development. a) Maximum growth was seen during the period from 12 to 16 years of age. b) The Maximum annual growth rates were as follows; Height: Boys-8.1cm from 14 to 15 years of age Girls-4.7cm from 13 to 14 Weight: Boys-8.0kg from 14 to 15 Girls-4.5kg from 13 to 14 Chest Girth: Boys-6.1cm from 14 to 15 Girls-4.2cm from 13 to 14 Sitting Height: Boys-4.6cm from 14 to 15 Girls-2.5cm from 13 to 14 c) The greatest individual differences in growth and development were observed during 12-15 years of age. d) Korean students were shorter than Japanese in 12-16 years of age group but after 17, Korean students become taller than Japanese. e) The standards of growth of rescent urban korean students show much improved than that of 1955. 2. Various Indices about Physical Growth and Development. a) Relative body weight was increased steadily annually and the crossing point of boys and girls appeared at age 11 at which girls surpassed boys and at 14, boys surpassed girls. b) Relative chestgirth showed narrow chest style in boys from 11 to 15 and from 11 to 14 in girls. c) The average relative sitting height was 54.0 in both sexes. d) The index was 1.1 in boys and 1.2-1.3 in girls. e) The Kaup index was lower than 2.0 in boys from 11 to 16 and in girls from 11 to 14. It becomes higher than 2.0 after 17 in boys but in girls after 15.