Sitting height and subischial leg length of Thai schoolboys in Bangkok.

ABSTRACT

Anthropometry is an important way to evaluate a child's growth pattern. The measurement of sitting height helps to define body proportion. Every country should have its own normal data and use it as a national reference. The measurements of standing height, sitting height, and weight were performed in 2,650 schoolboys, aged 11-18 years, and then the subischial leg length, and the sitting height/height (SH/H) ratio were calculated. The results were compared to the data of British boys studied by Tanner et al. The authors found that, in boys aged less than 15 years, the sitting height in Thai schoolboys was similar to that of British boys but the subischial leg length was longer. However, the sitting height and subischial leg length in Thai schoolboys became shorter than that of British boys after 15 years of age. This resulted in shorter adults when compared with British boys. In addition, the SH/H ratio in Thai schoolboys was the same as that in British boys when they reached the near final height. More data in both genders should be studied in order to construct our national references.