The growth of Tibetan monks in south India--compared to the boys in Taiwan 10 years ago.

Background: Studies comparing the growth of children between Tibetan and Han ethnic groups have not been reported.

Objective: To increase the understanding regarding the growth status of children and the growth difference between the Tibetan and Han ethnic groups.

Methods: Body weight, body height, and BMI of 894 Tibetan monks aged from 8-17 years old, residing in South India were collected, while growth information for boys in Taiwan was obtained from the Taiwan growth chart developed in 1997.

Results: In the 50th percentile, the median height difference between those boys 8 and 17 years of age was 46.8 cm, with a 5-6 cm increase each year. The median weight difference between 8- and 17-year-old groups was 33 kg, with a 0-6.5 kg increase each year. Each year, the BMIs of monks in the 5th, 50th, and 95th percentiles had 3.0-5.4%, 1.6-10%, and 3.1-8.8% increased rates, respectively. The differences of height and weight between the two groups increased between the ages of 9 and 14 years of age, but Taiwan boys and Tibetan monks had nearly the same height and weight at 17 years old. Based on the BMI-for-age curve, there were more Taiwanese boys overweight or obese than Tibetan monks.

Conclusions: Even after using the data of ten years ago in Taiwan, Taiwanese boys had superior nutrition and growth status compared with Tibetan monks between the ages of eight and seventeen years, inclusive. In addition, racial differences might also play a significant factor in growth.