title: Dynamic anthropometric changes in children as shown by longitudinal data for 2004-2009 from the city of Dalian, China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The physical development of children and adolescents always attracts widespread attention in society.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The goal of the present study was to systematically analyse the dynamic changes in some anthropometric characteristics among primary school age children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a longitudinal study design, this study monitored physical growth annually in 933 pupils of Dalian, China, from 2004-2009.Longitudinal multi-level modelling (mixed model) was used to analyse the trajectory of growth from ages 7-12 years by gender. Height, weight and BMI were transformed into Z-scores relative to the WHO 2007 references.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Height, weight and BMI were all higher for boys than for girls. Due to the interaction of age and gender, boys and girls exhibited different growth models. Average heights and weights for children of 7-12 years old in Dalian were higher than the WHO 2007 references. BMI z-scores for boys were significantly greater than the WHO 2007 references.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Height, weight and BMI z-scores among boys and girls of 7-12 years old in Dalian were generally greater than the WHO standards. The major reasons for the differences may be due to rapid socioeconomic development and improvements in nutrition and living conditions.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, PR China.
authors.forename: Gui-Rong
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Dong-Mei
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Zhi-Yong
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qi-Gui
authors.initials: QG
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002681:China; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012015:Reference Standards; D012737:Sex Factors