Growth status of Korean schoolchildren in Japan

The growth status of 845 Korean schoolchildren born and raised in Japan aged between 6 and 17 years in 1978 was studied. The schoolchildren, 403 boys and 442 girls, were urban residents. Height, weight, weight/height, chest circumference/height and sitting height/height of Korean schoolchildren in Japan were compared with those of Japanese children in Japan and Korean children in Korea. Korean schoolchildren in Japan were taller, heavier and relatively longer-legged at most ages than native Korean children of the same sex and age. In comparison with the Japanese children, Korean schoolchildren in Japan were slightly taller at every age and in early adolescence lighter and more slender for a given height. These results provide evidence of a more favourable environment of Korean children in Japan as compared with children in Korea.