Physical circumference development in Chinese children aged 3-6 years

ZHEN Zhiping; BA Yi; MA De; XUE Yaqi; GE Meiqin; LÜ Bingchen; GUO Meitong

doi:10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2025071

Volume 46 Issue 3

Mar. 2025

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ZHEN Zhiping, BA Yi, MA De, XUE Yaqi, GE Meiqin, LÜ Bingchen, GUO Meitong. Physical circumference development in Chinese children aged 3-6 years[J]. CHINESE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, 2025, 46(3): 412-415. doi: 10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2025071

Citation:

ZHEN Zhiping, BA Yi, MA De, XUE Yaqi, GE Meiqin, LÜ Bingchen, GUO Meitong. Physical circumference development in Chinese children aged 3-6 years[J]. CHINESE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, 2025, 46(3): 412-415. doi: 10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2025071

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Physical circumference development in Chinese children aged 3-6 years

doi: 10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2025071

1.
Department of Physical Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing (100875), China

Received Date: 2024-09-19
Rev Recd Date: 2024-12-13

Available Online: 2025-04-03

Publish Date: 2025-03-25

Abstract

Abstract

Objective To understand the growth and development levels of four physical measurements in children aged 3-6 years in China, so as to provide a reference for child nutrition improvement and health promotion. Methods A stratified random sampling method was used to collect physical measurement data from 120 kindergartens 25 842 children aged 3-6 years across 24 provinces and cities in seven natural geographical regions of North China, Northeast China, East China, Central China, South China, Southwest China and Northwest China from 2020 to 2023. The development levels of head circumference, chest circumference, waist circumference, and hip circumference were evaluated using a grading method. The analysis of gender and age differences was conducted using Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test, and the comparison of abnormal detection rates for different genders was conducted using Chi-square test. Results The distribution range of children aged 3-6 was 51.74(50.08, 53.33) cm in terms of head circumference, 55.73(52.09, 59.04) cm in terms of chest circumference, 53.04(48.92, 56.40) cm in terms of waist circumference, and 59.36(56.30, 62.32) cm in terms of hip circumference. The detection rate of abnormal head circumference in boys and girls aged 3-6 years old was relatively high (19.71%-42.02%), and the detection rate of abnormal physical circumference development levels in boys was higher than that in girls of all ages (χ²=5.63-83.35, P < 0.05). The detection rate of abnormal hip circumference (4.89%-6.53%) and chest circumference (4.51%-6.38%) in boys and girls aged 3-6 was relatively low, and there was no statistically significant difference in the abnormal rate between different ages and genders (χ²=0.00-1.61, 0.00-3.71, P>0.05). The detection rate of abnormal waist circumference in boys and girls aged 3-6 was relatively high (13.70%-42.45%), and the detection rate of abnormal waist circumference in girls was higher than that in boys aged 4-6 groups (χ²=10.49-58.18, P < 0.05). Conclusions The overall physical development of children aged 3-6 years in China is improving, but the abnormal detection rates for head circumference and waist circumference are relatively high. Child healthcare should focus on preventing and treating abdominal obesity, with differentiated health intervention strategies based on different age groups and genders.
- Growth and development,
- Head circumference,
- Chest circumference,
- Waist circumference,
- Hip circumference,
- Child, preschool

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References(21)

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