[Short countryside children in view of anthropometric research]

The present report deals with the analysis of the development, maturity and somatic body proportion of children from Polish country environment during growth. The research allow to describe which factors influence the biological development of children from the village. The aim of the study is the estimation of body build type and body proportions of short village children.

The data were collected in five village schools from Wielkopolska administrative unit and consist of 140 boys and 145 girls aged 7-9. Within the research some morphological parameters were made. The subjects somatotypes were determined using the Heath-Carter anthropometric method. The human body proportion also was detected. Short children (with stature deficiency) were recognized if they were under the 10 percentile for the Polish children population. The gathered material was calculated by the use of statistic methods.

1. It may be assumed that in all two groups of children there are some, but not very big differences in the development of the analysed morphological traits. Those characteristics are reflect in somatotypes of children. Short boys and girls differ a little bit than other two groups of children. They are more mesomorphic, in relation to their greater development of muscles. 2. The early period in school is rather stable in the somatic development so it could be notice that also healthy, short children will probably accelerate their growth rate in the puberty period. 3. There is a need for more research and analysis of anthropometric characteristics within the countryside children to assess physical development conditions.