THE PHYSIQUE STATUS AND ITS CHRONOLOGICAL CHANGES IN RECRUITED YOUTHS IN CHINA / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

This study was aimed to obtain a general knowledge of physical status and its chronological changes in young Chinese recruits. 73 000 physical examination data of young male recruits were collected in 100 sample units selected by the method of cluster sampling from 31 provinces in China. Height, weight, chest circumference, and body mass index(BMI) were analyzed. The results showed that the recruits from Northeast China and North China were the tallest (170 3cm and 170 6cm on average), the heaviest (60 4kg and 61 6kg), their chest circumference largest(83 4cm and 84 6cm), and their BMI were the largest(20 8 and 21 5kg/m 2). Comparing with historical data, the average height increased 6 6cm since 1955 and 4 1cm since 1974. The body weight increased 5 6kg since 1955 and 3 5kg since 1974. Chest circumference increased slightly, the mean values of which in the three periods were 20 3, 20 1 and 19 8kg/m 2, respectively. The recruits from southwertern and south China showed least growth, and their BMI was virtually lower than before. The results of this survey indicated that a significant difference in the physical status among youth recruits from different areas in China. Lack of growth of chest circumference and BMI in youths from some areas should arouse our attention