Table 1 General characteristics of adolescents aged 12–18 by gender over time, the CHNS 1991 to 2011^ab

Boys

(n = 892)

(n = 796)

(n = 801)

(n = 983)

(n = 811)

(n = 724)

(n = 546)

(n = 502)

Age (Years)

15.15 (1.75)

14.93 (1.75)

14.98 (1.72)

14.71 (1.72)

15.37 (1.62)

15.35 (1.73)

15.09 (1.76)

14.98 (1.73)

Index

42.07 (15.55)

44.19 (15.43)

49.37 (16.91)

54.59 (16.97)

57.24 (19.60)

59.29 (19.62)

62.61 (18.81)

64.78 (18.85)

Maternal education (years)

3.46 (3.68)

4.16 (3.79)

5.73 (4.03)

6.97 (3.82)

7.30 (3.54)

7.53 (3.67)

7.79 (3.35)

8.25 (3.07)

Log per capita household income

7.64 (0.87)

7.63 (1.13)

7.91 (1.15)

8.08 (1.17)

8.11 (1.57)

8.27 (1.57)

8.68 (1.39)

8.74 (1.72)

Height (cm)

155.66 (11.64)

155.95 (11.80)

156.59 (11.73)

157.39 (11.41)

161.87 (10.30)

161.15 (11.89)

161.43 (10.65)

161.36 (11.43)

Weight (kg)

45.24 (10.63)

45.45 (10.39)

46.21 (10.72)

46.34 (11.23)

50.65 (10.98)

49.77 (11.41)

50.16 (11.43)

51.25 (13.26)

BMI (kg/m²)

18.45 (2.45)

18.44 (2.37)

18.60 (2.55)

18.48 (2.68)

19.16 (2.75)

19.04 (2.73)

19.09 (3.31)

19.44 (3.69)

Waist circumference (cm)

–

66.28 (7.35)

66.55 (7.57)

66.88 (8.02)

69.42 (9.10)

69.75 (9.40)

69.01 (9.12)

70.34 (12.23)

Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg)

102.39 (13.34)

102.11 (12.66)

103.31 (12.25)

104.11 (12.85)

107.20 (12.52)

104.85 (11.86)

104.82 (11.91)

105.57 (12.45)

Diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg)

66.49 (9.77)

66.63 (9.83)

67.38 (9.19)

67.65 (9.40)

69.94 (9.02)

68.78 (9.35)

69.12 (9.03)

69.86 (8.95)

Girls

(n = 833)

(n = 776)

(n = 737)

(n = 886)

(n = 726)

(n = 638)

(n = 487)

(n = 445)

Age (Years)

15.04 (1.74)

15.02 (1.74)

14.96 (1.74)

14.81 (1.72)

15.17 (1.67)

15.41 (1.64)

14.99 (1.81)

15.11 (1.64)

Index

42.43 (15.26)

43.80 (15.19)

50.40 (17.62)

55.86 (17.13)

57.10 (19.48)

59.57 (18.71)

63.88 (18.83)

65.47 (18.75)

Maternal education (years)

3.54 (3.60)

4.23 (3.73)

5.50 (4.14)

6.78 (3.93)

7.29 (3.58)

7.47 (3.77)

7.69 (3.66)

7.91 (3.49)

Log per capita household income

7.53 (1.06)

7.56 (1.29)

7.88 (1.12)

8.00 (1.31)

8.07 (1.54)

8.30 (1.41)

8.63 (1.31)

8.62 (1.68)

Height (cm)

151.19 (7.92)

151.94 (7.78)

152.59 (8.11)

153.62 (7.84)

154.96 (8.06)

155.88 (7.76)

155.08 (8.62)

155.61 (8.37)

Weight (kg)

43.40 (8.04)

43.21 (7.91)

43.99 (8.51)

44.35 (8.63)

45.78 (8.66)

45.84 (8.18)

46.00 (9.77)

47.49 (10.22)

BMI (kg/m²)

18.89 (2.62)

18.61 (2.43)

18.75 (2.56)

18.65 (2.74)

18.96 (2.64)

18.80 (2.65)

19.00 (3.00)

19.49 (3.27)

Waist circumference (cm)

–

65.37 (6.97)

65.29 (7.01)

65.13 (7.31)

66.00 (7.67)

66.09 (6.87)

66.14 (7.84)

68.99 (9.38)

Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg)

100.49 (12.14)

100.78 (10.97)

102.35 (11.92)

102.42 (11.43)

104.53 (10.43)

101.59 (10.33)

102.74 (10.78)

103.61 (9.90)

Diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg)

65.82 (8.91)

66.36 (8.30)

67.61 (9.39)

67.05 (8.75)

68.83 (8.46)

67.36 (7.98)

68.38 (8.66)

67.36 (8.17)