ABSTRACT
Objective@#This paper analyses the secular trend in physical growth among Japanese children and adolescents from 1900 to 2016, and to provide scientific reference for growth and development in Chinese adolescents.@*Methods@#Data of height and weight of Japanese children and adolescents aged 6-17 years from 1900 to 2016 included in the Survey of School Health Care were used to illustrate growth rate and range of height, weight and BMI during different periods by using one-way ANOVA. Longitudinal correlation between height, weight and BMI was analyzed by using longitudinal analysis method.@*Results@#During 1900 to 2016, height growth ranged between 9.5-19.9 cm in boys and 10.8-18.9 cm in girls aged 6-17 years and the weight growth ranged between 4.0-15.9 kg in boys and 3.9-14.2 kg in girls, with males significantly higher than females; Peak height and weight growth rate of Japanese children and adolescents occurred between 1950 and 1960 (boys: 4.8 cm and 2.7 kg; girls: 3.9 cm and 2.4 kg). On the contrary, from 1939 to 1950, height and weight of Japanese children and adolescents showed a significant decreasing trend (boys: -1.8 cm and -1.2 kg per 10 years; girls: -0.8 cm and -0.4 kg per 10 years); During 2000-2016, the growth rates of height of boys and girls in all age groups in Japan were -0.2 to 0 cm in boys and -0.2 to -0.1 cm in girls per 10 years, respectively.@*Conclusion@#The long-term growth trend of Japanese children and adolescents shows an increasing trend before and after World War II; During World War II and the early post-war period, Japanese children and adolescents showed long-term decreasing trend. In the 21st century, the slow decreasing trend in growth among Japanese children and adolescents is observed, which might associate with absence of favorable environment.