THE HEIGHT OF RESIDENTS OF GUNMA PERFECTURE

Abstract

Districts with taller or shorter resident 40 years of age or over were identified by mass screening examinations in 46 areas in Gunma Prefecture. No district had an average hight that was taller than the Japanese average. The average height of inhabitants in Gunma Prefecture is shorter than the average 40 year-old and over Japanese.
The difference in height between Gunma and the average for Japan decreases, in 4070 years olds, while the height of 517 years olds is almost the same. Therefore, the past socio-economic situation seems to have an effect on height and may account for the large gap between the two groups. In the future, the average height of adults in Gunma may reach the Japanese average.
The height of infants in Japan did not increase from 1980 to 1996, indicating that the infant nutrirional state remaind almost the same from 1980 to 1996.
Among 517 year old, taller height are found in eastern Japan and shorter height in western Japan, indicating the climate may affect height.