Zhonghua Er Ke Za Zhi. 2007 Aug;45(8):609-14.
To reevaluate the normal physical growth of Chinese children and for a better understanding of its general trend within the recent 30 years and to provide the child growth reference data of Chinese children from 0 to 7 years of age.
Random cluster sampling was used. The subjects consisted of 138,775 healthy children under the age of 7 years from urban and rural areas of nine cities (Beijing, Harbin, Xi'an, Shanghai, Nanjing, Wuhan, Fuzhou, Guangzhou and Kunming). All the children were classified into 22 age groups. The sample size was at least 100-150 for each sex-age group in each area (urban/rural) of each city. Weight, height (supine length if under 3 years), sitting height (crown-rump under 3 years), chest circumference and head circumference were measured for all children.
Compared with the results obtained in 1995, the mean weight, height and sitting height significantly increased. The increment increased with chronological age. For example, at ages 6-7 years, the weight increments in the past 10 years were: urban boys and girls 1.54 kg and 1.19 kg, rural boys and girls 1.46 kg and 1.37 kg; the height increments were: urban boys and girls 2.1 cm and 1.8 cm, rural boys and girls 3.1 cm and 3.0 cm. The head and chest circumference in most age groups were slightly improved. The urban-rural difference and regional difference in growth were still significant. But the urban-rural difference in height has become smaller, as the increase has been greater in rural areas. Compared with the results of four previous studies conducted from 1975 to 2005, the results of the present survey showed that the weights and heights of Chinese children were still in the trend of accelerative growth in the past 30 years. At ages 6-7 years, the weight and height increments of urban boys and girls were 3.26 kg, 2.88 kg, 5.3 cm and 5.0 cm; and those of rural boys and girls were 2.68 kg, 2.58 kg, 7.6 cm and 7.5 cm, respectively, within the 30 years. Compared with the increments of each 10 years, the increasing rates were higher in the second decade than in the first decade; and in the third decade than in the second decade.
The condition of growth and nutrition of Chinese children has been much improved than that seen ten years ago and the secular trend is still continuing at an accelerated growth stage. The weights and heights of Chinese children in nine cities have reached or surpassed that of the new WHO child growth standards.
重新评估中国儿童的正常身体生长情况，更好地了解近30年来其总体趋势，并提供中国0至7岁儿童的生长参考数据。
采用随机整群抽样。研究对象为来自九个城市（北京、哈尔滨、西安、上海、南京、武汉、福州、广州和昆明）城乡的138775名7岁以下健康儿童。所有儿童被分为22个年龄组。每个城市每个地区（城市/农村）每个性别年龄组的样本量至少为100 - 150。测量了所有儿童的体重、身高（3岁以下为仰卧位身长）、坐高（3岁以下为顶臀长）、胸围和头围。
与1995年的结果相比，平均体重、身高和坐高显著增加。增量随年龄增长而增加。例如，在6 - 7岁时，过去10年的体重增量为：城市男孩和女孩分别为1.54千克和1.19千克，农村男孩和女孩分别为1.46千克和1.37千克；身高增量为：城市男孩和女孩分别为2.1厘米和1.8厘米，农村男孩和女孩分别为3.1厘米和3.0厘米。大多数年龄组的头围和胸围略有改善。生长的城乡差异和地区差异仍然显著。但城乡身高差异变小，因为农村地区的增长幅度更大。与1975年至2005年之前进行的四项研究结果相比，本次调查结果表明，在过去30年中，中国儿童的体重和身高仍呈加速增长趋势。在6 - 7岁时，30年内城市男孩和女孩的体重和身高增量分别为3.26千克、2.88千克、5.3厘米和5.0厘米；农村男孩和女孩的体重和身高增量分别为2.68千克、2.58千克、7.6厘米和7.5厘米。与每10年的增量相比，第二个十年的增长率高于第一个十年；第三个十年高于第二个十年。
中国儿童的生长和营养状况比十年前有了很大改善，长期趋势仍处于加速增长阶段。九个城市中国儿童的体重和身高已达到或超过世界卫生组织新的儿童生长标准。
