[Regional differences in physical development and growth of children in nine cities of China].
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate the regional differences in some patterns and characteristics of changes in physical development and growth in Chinese children.


METHODS
Data collected from the third national survey on physical development and growth in children under seven years old conducted in 1995 were analyzed and compared with those in 1975 and 1985.


RESULTS
There were significant differences in physical development and growth of children between various regions, and that in northern and middle regions was significantly superior to that in the south, with Beijing, Shanghai, Harbin and Nanjing ranking the first four places. But, this difference began to show a trend to narrow during the past 20 years, especially in the past ten years.


CONCLUSIONS
Regional difference in the development and growth of children is still present in China, but, begins to narrow.
D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth / Q000502:physiology*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D014504:Urban Health