Abstract: Growth of children of Danyang County, Jiangsu Province during 1936-1985 was compared. A notable secular growth trend of children during the last half century was observed. The mean heights of Danyang's boys and girls aged 7-14 increased 9.3 and 11.4 cm, respectively, mean weights increased 3.9 and 4.0 kg, and mean sitting heights increased 4.2 and 5.0 cm.
The height increments of boys and girls in centimeters per decade in the interval of 1956-1985 were significantly greater than those in the interval of 1936-1956 (P<0.01), and the weight increments of the interval were not remarkably different (P> 0.05).
Comparison of the measured value and estimated value of mean weight in each ages showed that the girls' weight increment was proportional to the height increment, and the body pattern trended to be slender.
Secular growth trend of Danyang's children was compared with that of same aged children of Nanjing, Shanghai in China and that children in Japan at same period.

Key words: Growth in children; Secular growth trend