Weight, height and triceps skindfold in South African black, Indian and White School pupils of 18 years.

In representative series of Sout African Black, Indian and White High School pupils of 18 years, data were secured on weight, height and triceps skinfold. Values among Black boys were significantly lower than those among White boys. Yet, obesity was far commoner among Black compared with White girls. Among Indian pupils, there were no significant differences in mean anthropometric values between groups relatively affluent and relatively poor. Values on Indian boys were similar to those of Black boys, although the former were far more favourably placed socioeconomically. Indian girls, compared with Black girls, had highly significantly lower values for weight and skinfold thickness, but not for height. However, mean weight for height values for Black and Indian boys were similar to values for White boys. Weight for height values for Indian girls were similar to data for White girls, although values on these two ethnic groups were significantly lower than those for Black girls. Findings question the insistence by many (i) of the need to attain maximum potential growth, and (ii) apart from extreme wasting and stunting, of the need to conform to international growth standards.