Growth changes of Chinese Mongolian, Uygur, Korean, and Tibetan ethnic groups in the past forty years.

Abstract

Growth changes in stature and weight between 1950-60s and 1991 of four Chinese ethnic groups were surveyed: the Mongolian, Uygur, Korean, and Tibetan minorities. The subjects were school children and youths aged 7 through 17 years who lived in the urban areas of Huhehaote city, Wulumuqi city, and Lasa city, where the corresponding groups lived. An overall increase in body size was found in both boys and girls. Increments of stature and weight for the four groups were as high as 3.22-4.15 cm/decade and 1.72-2.74 kg/decade for boys aged 13, and 2.41-4.01 cm/decade and 1.13-2.41 kg/decade for girls aged 11. Children in 1991 also showed a trend of attaining the adolescent growth spurt earlier than the generation of 30-40 years ago. However, the comparison of the growth status of the four groups with the Chinese Han showed that changes in these ethnic groups over the past 30-40 years were not sufficient to make up for the growth deficits incurred during their long histoies. Factors underlying these growth changes were discussed, and strategies for further improvement of growth were suggested. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.