Reference charts of body proportion for Japanese girls and boys.
BACKGROUND
Data from previous studies provided the mean values of body proportions for each age group of healthy Japanese children, but not the standard curves describing the distribution.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to construct a chart of body proportion of girls and boys in Japan.


METHODS
About 4% of the nationwide student population in Japan, more than 20,000 children per group of both boys and girls of all ages, was included randomly. The upper/lower ratio (ULR) was calculated from correlation tables containing stature and sitting height data reported in the Statistical Report on School Health and Hygiene. The subischial leg length was calculated by subtracting sitting height from stature.


RESULTS
The present study showed that Japanese boys (13.5-17.5 years old) were taller and had relatively longer legs than Japanese girls in the same age group, and that the median ULRs of Japanese girls and boys (5.5-17.5 years old) were larger than the average of Caucasian girls and boys reported previously. In boys, the percentile values reached the lowest at 13.5 years, then increased slightly. On the other hand, in girls, the percentile values remained constant after 11.5 years, which is different in boys in the present study and in other Caucasian populations obtained from several studies.


CONCLUSIONS
The new chart provides useful information in the assessment of the body proportions of Japanese children.
Tanaka
Chiaki
C
Department of Psychology, Health and Sports Science, College of Humanities, Obirin University, 3758 Tokiwa, Machida, Tokyo, Japan. c-tanaka@obirin.ac.jp
Murata
Mitsunori
M
Homma
Miwako
M
Kawahara
Takashi
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D049628:Body Size; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data