ObjectiveTo analyze the changes of height and weight of children and adolescents in Beijing from 1955 to 2014.

MethodsData for the period 1955-1975 were derived from published records; data for the period 1985-2010 from the Chinese National Survey on Students' Constitution and Health (CNSSCH).Japan's data were from publications of the Japanese Ministry of Education. On the basis of the above data, the height and weight of 7-17 years old students in Beijing and Japan were compared and analyzed.

ResultsBetween 1955 and 2010, the average height and weight of children in Beijing had increased. In 2014, the height of 17 years old boys in Beijing was 175.85 cm on the average, and that of girls of the same age was 162.67 cm. The weight of 17 years old boys in Beijing was 70.86 kg on the average and that of girls of the same age was 56.29 kg. The overall increases for boys and girls were 13.15 and 10.75 cm in height and 15.95 and 6.87 kg in weight. The average increments per decade for boys and girls were 2.23 and 1.82 cm in height and 2.7 and 1.65 kg in weight respectively. The height and weight of children and adolescents in Beijing were higher than those of Japanese children and adolescents, and the gap between them was gradually increasing.

ConclusionDuring the period 1955-2014, the height and weight among children and adolescents in Beijing showed an increasing trend, and experienced changes from acceleration to deceleration in growth rate.