Geographical differences in physiques of male youth of age 18–20 years in China

Three national surveys on the physical status of 18‐, 19‐, and 20‐year‐old male candidates for military service were carried out in six geographic regions of China in 1955, 1974, and 2001. Data from these surveys for 72,000 individuals were compared by region, by time, and by age, and estimates of incremental changes by decade were made. Overall, at all time points, males in the north and northeast areas were larger and heavier than males in the southwest. Similarly, the proportion of males in the north and northeast who were overweight was greater than in the other areas. The proportion classified as “thin” was highest in the south, southwest, and northwest, reaching 42.6% in the northwest. When urban and rural areas were compared, the mean value of every measure in every region was higher for urban youth, with all but two comparisons reaching significance (P<0.05). Differences of chest circumference among age groups were significant, as were differences in height, weight, and body mass index for 18‐year‐olds compared to 20‐year‐olds. Overall, height increments per decade were greatest for males in the southwest (average of age groups 1.79 cm, 1974 to 2001) and least in the northeast (1.08), indicating some tendency toward convergence over time. Weight increments per decade over the same time were greatest in north China (1.37 kg) and least in the northwest region (0.58 kg). Am. J. Hum. Biol. 18:141–148, 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.