| Objective To investigate the physical data of3to6years old preschool children in urban areas of Lanzhou from2001to2011and study the physical growth trend of this group in a longer period (11years); to find out existing and newly emerged risky factors that can influence the physical growth and therefore provide scientific guidance for making regional and domestic policy to improve this group’s health.Method Children from67kindergartens in total located in different functional urban areas of Lanzhou were chosen as study objects using stratified cluster sampling method. Each area included at least3kindergartens at random, including good, fair, inferior ones respectively. Height, weight and body mass index (BMI) were studied. And the changes of this group’s growth retardation, emaciation, underweight, overweight and obesity were then screened respectively according to Z scores, namely, height for age (WAZ), weight for age (HAZ), weight for height (WHZ). Physical data were studied by horizontal (of the same age), together with vertical (of different ages) analysis, then compared with the physical growth level of children under7years old living in urban areas of nine cities of China in2005.Results1The changes of height and weight of3-6years old children in urban areas of Lanzhou from2001-2011.1.1According to the vertical analysis, the height and weight of this group increased by age, which was in accordance with the physical growth trend of children.1.2According to the horizontal analysis, the increasing rates of height and weight of this groups were significantly different (P<0.05), and that of boys (1.7cm,2.3kg) higher than girls (1.2cm,0.7kg)(P<0.05), showing significant difference of gender and age.In groups of3years old, the height and weight of boys were in linear positive correlation with ages (rs=0.612,P<0.05; rs=0.776,P<0.05), with an average increasing rate of0.19%for height and0.49%for weight. Meanwhile, only the height of girls was in linear positive correlation with ages (rs=0.630,P<0.05), with an average increasing rate of0.07%.In groups of4years old, only the weight of boys was in linear positive correlation with ages (rs=0.722,P<0.05), with an average increasing rate of0.44%. In groups of5years old, the height and weight of boys were in linear positive correlation with ages (rs=0.606,P<0.05; rs=0.70,P<0.05), with an average increasing rate of0.13%for height and0.65%for weight.In groups of6-7years old, the height and weight of boys were in linear positive correlation with ages (rs=0.647,P<0.05; r,=0.700,P<0.05), with an average increasing rate of0.03%for height and1.14%for weight.2The changes of BMI P50from2001to2011According to the horizontal analysis, the BMI P50showed no correlation with age. According to the vertical analysis, the BMI P50decreased with age, with a higher increasing rate of height than weight.3The Z scores from2001-20113.1The Z scores were significantly different (P<0.05), during these11years.In groups of3years old and4years old, the HAZ scores were in linear positive correlation with ages (rs=0.166,P=0.006; rs=0.725,P=0.012), with an average increasing rate of7.96%and1.90%. In groups of3-6years old, the HAZ scores were also in linear positive correlation with ages (rs=0.693, P=0.018), with an average increasing rate of3.98%.3.2The relevance ratio of malnutrition, overweight and obesity according to Z scoresAccording to the horizontal analysis, the relevance ratios of overweight and obesity of each group, except for group of3years old, were significantly different (P<0.05) during these11years, with an increasing rate each year. The relevance ratios of growth retardation and emaciation were also significantly different (P<0.05). In groups of3years old and4years old, the relevance ratio of low weight had no significant difference (P>0.05), however, that of5years old and6-7years old showed significant differences (P<0.05).According to vertical analysis, the relevance ratios of overweight among groups were significantly different (P<0.05) during these11years, with a decreasing trend each year. However, the relevance ratios of obesity showed no significant difference (P>0.05). The relevance ratios of low weight in2002,2008,2009,2011and that of emaciation in2006,2007were significantly different (P<0.05). Those in other years showed no significant differences (P>0.05). The relevance ratios of growth retardation in2003,2004,2005and2010had no significant differences (P>0.05), while those in other years showed significant differences (P<0.05). In groups of3years old children, the low weight was in linear negative correlation with ages (rs=-0.612,P<0.05), with an average decreasing rate of11.34%. In groups of5years old children, the overweight and obesity were in linear positive correlation with ages, with an average increasing rate of5.38%and4.60%, respectively. Conclusions During these recent10years, the physical growth level of preschool children in urban areas of Lanzhou was increasing rapidly. However, malnutrition and over-nutrition also surged as a dual problem in this group. In response, while children’s good living habits being prompted, kindergartens should pay more attention to the nutrition balance of children’s diet and increase their outdoor activities. Meanwhile, public health education should also be emphasized among societies, families and kindergartens to take care of children’s physical growth. |
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