Height, weight and BMI of schoolchildren in Jena, Germany—are the secular changes levelling off?

Abstract

The secular trend of body height, weight and body mass index (BMI) in 7- to 14-year-old Jena schoolchildren measured in 1975, 1985, 1995 and 2001 is examined. Between 1975 and 1995, a positive trend both in height and weight is observed. In the decade 1985–1995, which includes the time of German reunification, weight shows considerably greater increases than height, resulting in an increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity. The changes in living conditions after reunification cause no remarkable intensification of the secular trend in height. After 1995, the increase in height of boys decelerates, while among girls even a decrease occurs. Girls’ weight remains approximately constant between 1995 and 2001 whereas weight among boys continues to increase. The levelling off of the secular increases in height at the end of the twentieth century may be attributed to a possible stabilisation of living conditions.