Abstract: To study the growing somatotypes of infants of the state, the Heath2Carter method was applied to 439 Zhuang infants ( 228 males; 211 females) with ages ranging from three to six in Bose City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Results were as follows: (1) With increasing age, values of the inner and middle genes are decreased, while that of the outer genes increased; (2) The average value of the somatotype of each age group was: middle gene value> inner gene value> outer gene value. Among males and females aged three to five, they all fit in the endo2mesomorphic group. Males aged six were of the balanced mesomorphic group. Females aged six were in the middle of the three groups; (3) The value of SAD between males and females of similar ages was 0133 ) 0154, while T was 1169 ) 2135. The malePfemale somatotype showed no significant difference ( P> 0105) except groups aged three ( P< 0105). In conclusion: it can be stated that compared with the somatotype of the Han Nationality, all the values of the Zhuang somatotype were lower and the distribution of the Zhuang somatotype more dispersed.

Key words: Heath2Carter somatotype; Body measurement; Infants; Zhuang nationality