B1-7 Body proportions of children in Tokyo, Beijing and Manila

Anthropometric data from children were obtained in Tokyo (183 boys and 189 girls, 1985); Manila (476 boys and 483 girls in Makati, 1989, and 545 boys and 524 girls in Quezon City, 1991); and Beijing (631 boys and 654 girls, 1997). In order to determine how Allen's rule is reflected in the growth of children, stature, leg length, biacromial breadth, chest breadth, antero-posterior chest depth, and indices related to these measurements were examined. The results are summarized as follows: 1. Highly significant difference was detected among these groups by ANOVA. 2. The Tokyo children's horizontal cross-section of the thorax was rather elliptic, while those of other three children's groups are rather circular. 3. The Beijing children had relatively shorter leg length to stature, and a more circular thorax section among the children of the 4 groups. 4. Makati children in Manila had longer leg length relative to stature, and the tempo of elongation is more rapid than the other children groups'. 5. QC children in Manila have broader shoulders, and the girls alone have a rather more circular thorax section. 6. Allen's rule may be applied at least to relative leg length to stature during the growth period among children living northern (Beijing), southern (Manila) and intermediate in intermediate (Tokyo) regions in Asia.