Virani Nikhil
PED Research, Department of Physical Education, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry, India.
Ann Hum Biol. 2005 May-Jun;32(3):259-82. doi: 10.1080/03014460500068261.
Growth parameters are widely used in the assessment of health, nutrition and physical characteristics of a population; however, there still exist uncertainties regarding ethnic variation and the influence of physical activity on growth. Due to the paucity of longitudinal data, the dynamics of the adolescent growth spurt have not been satisfactorily examined in most populations.
The main purpose of this longitudinal study is to present the secular trends in the dynamics of height growth over four decades. In the process, this paper also aims to establish current norms for some biological parameters of growth and to address issues concerning ethnic variation and the effect of childhood physical activity on growth.
Three hundred and one boys and 235 girls of Indian origin who had been enrolled in the Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education (SAICE) by age 6 and remained for at least 3 uninterrupted years were divided into four birth cohort periods. Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were carried out to derive distance, velocity and acceleration curves.
No significant differences were found between ethnic groups in any of the growth parameters. Over the 40-year span of this study, SAICE children prove to be taller than their Indian peers. A significant positive secular trend was seen in the height attained at all velocity turning points over the first two decades. Most pre-pubertal growth parameters in these children resemble those from developed nations.
Children from most parts of India have similar genetic growth potential. After a significant positive secular trend in height attained over the first 20 years, the adult height has now plateaued. The significant difference in post-pubertal stature between the current generation and those of European origin indicates a genetic difference. Regular and graded physical activities have a salutary effect on growth. The data provide norms for healthy, active Indian child growing up in a satisfactory environment.
生长参数广泛用于评估人群的健康、营养和身体特征；然而，关于种族差异以及身体活动对生长的影响仍存在不确定性。由于纵向数据匮乏，大多数人群中青少年生长突增的动态变化尚未得到令人满意的研究。
这项纵向研究的主要目的是呈现四十年来身高增长动态的长期趋势。在此过程中，本文还旨在建立一些生长生物学参数的当前标准，并解决有关种族差异以及儿童期身体活动对生长的影响等问题。
301名印度裔男孩和235名印度裔女孩在6岁时进入室利阿罗频多国际教育中心（SAICE），并至少连续停留3年，他们被分为四个出生队列时期。进行横断面和纵向分析以得出距离、速度和加速度曲线。
在任何生长参数上，种族群体之间均未发现显著差异。在本研究的40年期间，SAICE的儿童比印度同龄人更高。在最初的二十年中，所有速度转折点的身高都呈现出显著的正向长期趋势。这些儿童的大多数青春期前生长参数与发达国家的儿童相似。
印度大部分地区的儿童具有相似的遗传生长潜力。在最初20年身高出现显著的正向长期趋势之后，成人身高现已趋于平稳。当代人与欧洲血统人群在青春期后身高上的显著差异表明存在遗传差异。规律且分级的身体活动对生长有有益影响。这些数据为在良好环境中成长的健康、活跃的印度儿童提供了标准。
