A longitudinal study of height and weight in black and white Johannesburg children.

A 2-year longitudinal survey of height and weight was conducted on 2,058 Johannesburg children aged 3.5 - 18.5 years. The principal findings were that both height and weight increased more rapidly in white than in black children, and that attained height and weight were significantly greater in whites. The ponderal index (a measure of weight-for-height) was greatest in black females and lowest in black males. Comparison with a survey carried out 12 years previously suggests that there has been an increase in the mean weight of the black population over this period.