Secular changes in the stature and weight of Taiwanese children, 1964-1988.

Abstract

Secular changes in mean statures and body weights of nationally representative samples of school children from Taiwan, republic of china, between 1964 and 1988 are described. The trend is for continuous increase in both measures from 1964 through 1988, and the more recent data suggest that the positive secular trend is continuing more so in males than in females. Estimated ages at peak height velocity (PHV) and peak weight velocity (PWV), based on the Preece-Baines model I applied to the cross-sectional means, decline linearly in both sexes at about 0.04 yr/yr and 0.05 yr/yr, respectively. Chinese children in Taiwan, Republic of China, are, on average, heavier than Chinese children from the People's Republic of china, but differences in mean statures are negligible. Chinese children in Taiwan mature about 0.5 to 0.7 year earlier (estimated ages at PHV) than those in the People's Republic of China. Estimated rates of secular change in stature tend to be slightly greater in chinese children from the People's Republic of China between the 1950s and 1985 than in Chinese children from Taiwan, Republic of China, between 1964 and 1988. In contrast, estimated rates of secular change in body weight are greater in children from Taiwan than in children from the People's Republic of China. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.