Trends Of Physical And Physiological Development Among Children And Adolescents Aged 7 To 22 In Anhui Province From 1985 To 2005

Objective To understand the secular trends and variation patterns in the physical and physiological development among children and adolescents aged 7 to 22 in Anhui province in the past twenty years, providing objective and theoretical evidence in decision-making and strategic development for the work of school health.Methods Data was collected from the National Surveillance of Student Physical and Physiological Health in Anhui province from 1985 to 2005. The same local schools were investigated every 5 years including rural and urban areas for the comparability. In each school, participants were selected in randomized groups according to grades. Measurements procedures were strictly carried out by trained professionals under the guidelines of the National Standard Working Manuals, in which appointed measuring instruments, standard measurements and data input software were listed in details.Results Through the dynamic statistics analysis, results showed that from 1985 to 2005, height, weight, and chest circumference of male and female adolescents in both urban and rural areas generally increased, while FVC and the endurance ability in male and female adolescents significantly decreased, meanwhile speed and explosive force strength did not change significantly. In spite of the muscle strength increased a little, it showed a decline trend during the second decade from 1995 to 2005.Conclusion In the past 20 years, the physical health of children and adolescents in Anhui province showed sustainable increasing trends. In comparison with the level of student physical development in Anhui province in the early past, physiological and sports function index showed different degrees of decreasing trends. Obviously, the physical development of children and adolescents in Anhui is inconsistent with the functional development. Facing the unbalanced development in students'physical fitness and health, causes and risk factors should be explored in the daily school health education, and more practical and effective measures should be taken in combination.