Secular trend in body height of schoolchildren in Northeast Attica, Greece.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the secular trend for body height in schoolchildren in Northeast Attica, Greece.


METHODS
In 2005 we studied the growth of 4,131 Greek schoolchildren (2,054 boys) aged 5.5-12.6 years. The data were compared with those of a study performed in 1994/95. We also studied the growth of 236 immigrant schoolchildren (95 boys and 141 girls).


RESULTS
For boys in the present study mean height (SD) was 135.6 (11.0) vs 133.8 (10.4) cm in the 1994/95 study, p < 0.001, and for girls of the present study mean height was 135.2 (11.7) vs 133.3 (10.8) cm in 1994/95, p < 0.001. The increase in height was present at almost all ages. There was a significant difference in height between Greek and immigrant boys, 135.6 (11.0) cm and 133.0 (10.2) cm, respectively, p < 0.05. However, there was no significant difference in height between Greek and immigrant girls, 135.2 (11.7) and 133.8 (12.4) cm, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
A secular trend in height is still taking place in Greek schoolchildren that is mostly attributed to an increase in height from early life.
Papadimitriou
A
A
Third Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens School of Medicine, "Attikon" University Hospital, Athens, Greece. anpapad@med.uoa.gr
Konstantinidou
M
M
Christopanou
H
H
Xepapadaki
P
P
Giannouli
O
O
Nicolaidou
P
P