Evaluation on Height Level of 823 Teenagers Aged 11-15 Years in Zibo City, Shandong Province and Its Influencing Factors

Objectives To analyze the height levels of (11~15) year-old teenagers in Zibo, Shandong and to explore the influencing factors.

Methods A stratified, random, and cluster sampling method was used to obtain a representative sample of teenagers aged from 12 to 15 years old. All participants took the questionnaires and their height measurements. Descriptive research method were used to analyze the height level of adolescents by demographic characteristics. Chi-square test and linear regression models were conducted to explore the influencing factors.

Results Among the 823 teenagers participated in the survey, each age group met the requirement that the height of 95% teenagers were at medium or above height level. There were 2(0.24%) at low level, 29(3.52%) at lower level, 543(65.98%) at medium level, 205(24.91%) at medium and upper level, and 44(5.35%) at upper level, respectively. The height level of teenagers aged (11~15) years in Zibo were higher than the national average. The median heights were 3.944 cm and 3.682 cm higher than the national averages for male and female, respectively. There were significant differences in height under the influence of environmental factors including age, gender, sleeping time and dietary habits.

Conclusions The heights of teenagers aged (11~15) years in Zibo were higher than the average of China. Age, gender, sleeping time and dietary habits are influencing factors of height of teenagers.