title: Chest circumference and sitting height among children and adolescents from Lhasa, tibet compared to other high altitude populations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The adaptation of human beings to a high altitude environment during growth has been reported in several populations but is less known for Tibetans. The objective of this study was to investigate similarities and differences of Tibetans in patterns and characteristics of physical growth and development in comparison to other high altitude populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured the stature, weight, chest circumference and sitting height of 2,813 healthy children and adolescents aged 6- to 21-year-old living at 3,658-4,500 m in Tibet, China, and compared them with published data from other high altitude populations. Eligible participants must have been born and raised in Tibet, and both their parents' families have to be Tibetan for at least the past three generations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The physical growth and development of children and adolescents in Tibet and the Andes followed similar patterns, such as delayed growth, short stature and sitting height, and large chest dimensions. Relative to stature, Tibetan sitting heights are similar to Andeans, but chest circumferences are smaller.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings from this study reinforce the conclusion that Tibetan and Andean populations have adapted differently to high altitude hypoxia. The physical features of each population may result from unique adaptation to hypoxia, as well as socio-ecological factors, such as poor nutrition.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anthropology, Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou, 121001, China.
authors.forename: Huanjiu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.affiliation: Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, 85724-5211.
authors.forename: Zhao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anthropology, Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou, 121001, China.
authors.forename: Wenhui
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anthropology, Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou, 121001, China.
authors.forename: Youfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anthropology, Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou, 121001, China.
authors.forename: Hailong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anthropology, Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou, 121001, China.
authors.forename: Yanjie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anthropology, Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou, 121001, China.
authors.forename: Suwei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medicine, Nanyang Medical College, Nanyang, 473061, China.
authors.forename: Linguo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anthropology, Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou, 121001, China.
authors.forename: Meizhi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anthropology, Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou, 121001, China.
authors.forename: Po
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anthropology, Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou, 121001, China.
authors.forename: Fu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou, 121001, China.
authors.forename: Keqiang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anthropology, Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou, 121001, China.
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou, 121001, China.
authors.forename: Chunshan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anthropology, Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou, 121001, China.
authors.forename: Liguang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000531:Altitude; D000886:Anthropometry; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture; D013909:Thorax / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D018609:Tibet; D055815:Young Adult