Differences in anthropometric measurements between Mongolia boys and Han boys in China

Abstract

To analyze the difference in anthropometric measurements between Mongolia boys and Han boys in China and understand the characteristics of children's physical development in two ethnic groups. The data on anthropometric measurements of Mongolia boys and Han boys in Inner Mongolia were obtained from the National Survey on Student's Constitution and Health (CNSSCH) conducted in 2010, the data included body height, sitting height, chest circumference, body weight, triceps skinfold thickness (TST), scapular skinfold thickness (SST), abdominal skinfold thickness (AST), living area (urban area or rural area), and having spermatorrhea or not. The boys in two ethnic groups were divided into two groups according to the data about spermatorrhea, the living area specific difference in the anthropometric measurements between the boys in two ethnic groups were analyzed. The proportions of Han boys having spermatorrhea at 11, 12, 14 years old (0, 3.2% , 62.5%) were higher than those of Mongolia boys (8.1%, 15.3%, 76.0%, all P < 0.05). In the boys who had had no spermatorrhea (11-14 years old), the body height of Han boys was 1.4 cm higher than that of Mongolia boys (P < 0.01), however, there were no significant differences in sitting height, chest circumference, body weight, TST, SST,AST and BMI between Han boys and Mongolia boys (all P > 0.05). In the boys who had had spermatorrhea (12-17 years old), the body height, sitting height, chest circumference, body weight, SST, BMI of Han boys were 1.8 cm,0.6 cm, 3.1 cm, 3.1 kg, 1.7 mm and 0.7 kg/m(2) higher than those of Mongolia boys, respectively (all P < 0.05), however, the differences in TST and AST between Han boys and Mongolia boys were not statistical significant (all P > 0.05). The body height of Han boys might be higher than that of Mongolia boys, and in those who had had spermatorrhea, the sitting height, chest circumference, body weight, SST and BMI of Han boys might be higher than those of Mongolia boys, the differences in anthropometric measurements between Mongolia boys and Han boys who had had spermatorrhea or not might be different.