Physical growth and development of urban and rural East African children, aged 7 – 16 years

SummaryLongitudinal data on the growth and development of African boys and girls attending an urban primary school in Dar es Salaam during the years 1966–1971 together with cross-sectional height and weight data of children aged 7–15 years attending urban and rural schools in Tanzania are presented. No significant differences were found between the two groups and standards of height and weight, skinfold thickness and arm circumference are given. The data suggest that though East African children are smaller and lighter than European children, their shape (i.e. weight for height) and the ages at which peak height and weight increase are attained, are approximately the same. The data may form a basis for assessing the present state of growth and physique in Tanzania, but for the future more general standards will be required and some attempt should be made to investigate the possibility of using indices of muscle mass which are more pertinent to the physiological development of the child.