Acta Anatomica Sinica ›› 2018, Vol. 49 ›› Issue (6): 770-781.doi: 10.16098/j.issn.0529-1356.2018.06.013

• Anthropology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Analysis of environmental factors influencing on growth and development of plateau children and adolescents in China

XI Huan-jiu* LI Wen-hui WEN You-feng LIU Kun REN Fu ZHAO Li-guang   

  1. Institute of Anthropology,Jinzhou Medical University, Liaoning Jinzhou 121001,China
  • Received:2017-09-19 Revised:2017-11-09 Online:2018-12-06 Published:2019-02-28
  • Contact: XI Huan-jiu E-mail:huanjiuxi@163.com

Abstract:

Objective To answer the question of how much environmental factors influence growth and development (GD). Methods Height, weight and chest circumference of 107 986 healthy children and adolescents(CA) aged 7-18 years old living in 14 provincial capital cities of China, and natural and social environmental variables of the cities were collected to study the impact of environmental factors on GD. Results Four body mass index were related to GDP per capita (GDPpc), adult literacy rate (ALR), life expectancy(LE), life expectancy index(LEI), education index(EI), GDP index(GDPI) and human development index(HDI) (P<0.01). Three principal components accounted for 82.75% of the variations. Comprehensive enrollment rate (CER) of college, middle and primary schools, HDI, altitude were the three main influencing factors on GD. Conclusion Altitude is essential in influencing factors on GD of CA and it representes a group of influencing factors. Social environmental variables for GD of CA play an important role, in which education is more outstanding.

Key words: Altitude, Growth, Development, Environment, Child, Adolescent