Body proportion chart for evaluating changes in stature, sitting height and leg length in children and adolescents

Studies by longitudinal sample to evaluate trends in stature, sitting height, leg length and body proportions together in Japanese children are scarce.

Trends in stature, sitting height, leg length and LUR (lower segment and upper segment ratio) were evaluated with a graphical method (Body Proportion Chart).

Longitudinal data for 520 boys and 306 girls who had 12 consecutive yearly measurements from 6.5-17.5 years of age were used.

Estimated growth rates of leg length were greater than those of sitting height in pre-adolescence in both sexes. Leg length was slightly longer in girls than in boys for a short period early in adolescence, but sitting height in girls exceeded that in boys for a longer period. LUR attained peak values between 12.5-13.5 years in girls (LUR = 85.7) and between 13.5-14.5 years in boys (LUR = 89.2). After attaining maximum LUR, leg length was stable, although sitting height continued to increase slightly in both sexes.

The results highlight the usefulness of the Body Proportion Chart method for identifying changes in body proportions during adolescence.