Examination of regional differences in physical growth in urban and rural areas. Based on longitudinal data from South Korea

Abstract

Although the land area of South Korea is small and the population density is high compared with the neighboring country of China, examination of the regional differences in physical growth in South Korea is thought to be insufficient. In this study, to examine the regional differences in physical growth in South Korea, we attempted to verify the effects of unique regional environments on physical growth by comparing an urban area within the city of Busan and a rural district in the surrounding area. The subjects were 300 males and 201 females in the final year of one high school within the city of Busan, and 230 males and 215 females in the final year of a high school in a rural area outside the city of Busan. Health check records for these subjects were reviewed retrospectively, and longitudinal growth data for height and weight were obtained from the first year of elementary school (age 7 years) to the final year of high school (age 18 years) (1988–1999). The wavelet interpolation method was then applied to the longitudinal growth data for height and weight classified into urban and rural areas, and the maximum peak velocity (MPV) and mid-growth spurts (MGS) were identified. The results revealed a significant difference between the urban and rural areas in the age at MPV of height and weight for males (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was seen for the females. Based on the results, the age at MPV in the physique of males showed a tendency for urban males to be physically younger. However, the age at MPV of physique in females was similar in the urban and rural areas. In addition, for the pattern of appearance of the MGS in males, there was one MGS in the greatest number of cases (41 %) in both the urban and rural areas, followed by two MGSs in 30–40 %. Among females, there was one MGS in 48 % of urban females and 54 % of rural females, the highest number. The next highest percentage was for no appearance of a growth spurt, in 41 % of urban females and 29 % of rural females. Although the MGS appearance pattern seemed to differ slightly in urban and rural females, the results of a χ2 test showed no significant difference between the urban and rural area in the MGS appearance pattern in either males or females. The high economic growth has not ended in South Korea and from the above it is thought that there continues today to be a rising trend in physique with time. The differences in physical growth caused by this phenomenon together with the differences in the socioeconomic situation in the urban and rural areas are thought to have been demonstrated.