The Comparison Of Physical Constitution And Nutritional Status Of Bai, Yi And Han Nationality Students In Secondary Vocational Schools Of Kunming

ObjectiveCurrently, the goals of physical education in secondary vocational schools are building up health, improving athletic ability and forming healthy habits in daily life. Most previous studies of physical and nutritional status of national minorities in Yunnan were mainly focused on Naxi, Dai and other trans-provincial nationalities, no research of Bai, Yi and Han nationality students in vocational schools were conducted. Through investigation of physical and nutritional status of Bai, Yi and Han nationality students in secondary vocational schools of Kunming, with further follow-ups and statistic analysis, this study reviewed there were differences of these three nationality groups in dietetic and developmental status, therefore provide scientific evidence for future physical and nutritional interventions to improve adolescent's health in Yunnan.Methods1. Literature review: By reviewing literature in international/domestic journals, the criterions and methods of measuring physical/nutritional status were confirmed.2. Samples: stratified random selecting method was used to choose schools and students for the study; totally 300 hundred students aged 16-18 was selected (100 for each nationality with 103 boys and 197 girls); all participants had no cardiac diseases, respiratory diseases or infectious diseases according the a medical examination at the enrollment.3. Test of performance: Through integration of major domestic investigations in physical status; and further validating reliability and validity of the measurements used in these investigations, following test were chosen for performance measurement - 50m running, standing long jump, pull-up (male), sit-up (female), 1000m running (male), 800m running, shot put.4. Body measurements: According to physical and nutritional characteristics in Yunnan, the following measurements were chosen for indicating nutritional and developmental status– height, weight, circumference of chest, fat thickness of the upper arm and lower point of scapular.5. Questionnaire: A questionnaire was given to students at the end of the semester to gather information in daily diet.Results1. Height: Male Yi nationality students were the tallest among all at the same age, and Bai was the shortest, the difference between Yi and Bai was significant (P<0.05). Female Han students were the tallest, while Yi was the shortest (P<0.05) and no significant difference was found between Han and Bai. In terms of weight, male Yi students had the highest measure while Han the lowest, the difference among all three nationalities were significant (P<0.05). Female Yi students also had the highest measure in weight while Han the lowest, the only significant difference was found between Yi and Han (P<0.05). Circumference, male Han students were measured the highest, Bai the lowest and the only significant difference was found between these two (P<0.05). Female girls also had the highest measure in circumference, Yi the lowest and significantly less than Han and Bai (P<0.05). According to Weierweike Index, the body figure of the students of Yi and Bai nationality were more well-proportioned than that of Han nationality (P<0.05).2. Physical performances: 50M, both male and female Yi students performed the best while Han the lowest, Yi students were significantly better than Han and Bai (P<0.05). Standing long jump: male Yi performed the best and Han the worst, the difference was significant between these two (P<0.05). Same trend was identified among female students, with Yi significantly better than Han and Bai (P<0.05). Strength: Han female performed the best in sit-up while Yi the worst, the difference between these two was significant (P<0.05). Male Yi students performed the best in pull up while Bai the worst, the difference between these two was significant (P<0.05). Endurance: male Yi performed the best in 1000M while Han the worst, the difference between these two was significant (P<0.05). Yi female performed significantly better in 800M than the others (P<0.05). Shot up: Yi male students performed the best while Han the worst, the difference among all groups was significant (P<0.05). Female Han students performed the best in shot up while Bai the worst, Han performed significantly better than the others (P<0.05).3. Differences in dietetic habits existed among different nationality groups. In terms of malnutrition, the highest number in both male and female were identified in Han nationality, Yi had the lowest number in malnutrition and both Yi and Bai were superior than Han (P<0.05). Obesity: Han was significantly higher in quantity than the others (P<0.05). Intake of nutrients: Han students had the highest amount in energy (P<0.05), and male Han consumed the largest amount of fat (P<0.05), Male Han students had the highest intake in protein (P<0.05), Yi and Bai had higher intake of carbohydrates than that of Han (P<0.05). Han students had higher intake of mineral substance than Bai and Yi (P<0.05), and Han male students had higher intake of retinol than Yi (P<0.05). Yi and Bai students had higher Vitamin C intake than Han (P<0.05). Dietetic habits: Yi and Bai students consumed more grain, legume and vegetable than Han (P<0.05). All male groups had insufficient intake in dairy, eggs, and all female groups had insufficient intake in meat, all students had insufficient intake of fish. .Conclusion1. Differences nationalities had advantages in different aspects of physical status, no definite conclusion could be drawn. However, according to Weierweike Index, the body figure of the students of Yi and Bai nationality were more well-proportioned than that of Han nationality.2. In terms of physical performance, male Yi students were significantly superior than others, and Han performed the worst. Female Yi and Bai students were superior in speed, endurance, and lower limb strength, while Han girls were better in body trunk and upper limb strength. In general, Yi and Bai students performed better physically than Han, especially for male students.3. The consumption of nutrient wasn't related to one's physical status and financial situation. Due to the habits in diet, most students'nutritional level was unsatisfactory; however Yi and Bai were superior to Han students in terms of nutritional intake.In summary, the physical constitution and nutritional status of Bai, Yi and Han nationality students were different, Yi and Bai students were superior to Han students in body figure, physical performance and nutritional condition. However, most students had imbalanced nutrient intake and had not reached the level of a healthy diet. Nutrients intake is crucial to students'development and physical status, improving nutritional level of students and choose different physical education methods according to each nationality's characteristics would greatly facilitate the level of students'health.