Abstract: From 2009 to 2013, 26954 individuals belonging to 11 ethnic groups with spoken Chinese dialect were analyzed. Stature and weight values were measured, Body mass index (Ibm) was calculated, and the correlation between Ibm and latitude and longitude determined. The results were as follows. As a whole, in the 11 dialect groups Ibm increased linearly with age, and differences between every two age groups were statistically significant. Ibm values of northern dialect groups were larger than southern dialect groups. The results also found that rural male (r=0.671, p<0.01), rural female (r=0.775, p<0.01), urban male (r=0.799, p<0.01), urban female (r=0.723, p<0.01) Ibm values were positively correlated with latitude, while rural male (r=0.402, p<0.05) and urban male (r=0.361, p<0.05) Ibm were positively correlated with longitude. Rural female (r=0.225, p=0.187>0.05) and urban female (r=0.043, p=0.820>0.05)Ibm values were not correlated with longitude. Chinese dialect groups could be divided into three levels according to the standard Ibm average values (larger than 24.0, 23.1-24.0, less than 23.0). All the northern dialect groups were located in the first and second level, and most of the southern dialect groups were located in the second and third level. In other words, the 11 dialect groups were distributed across all three levels based on latitude. Heredity, environment, diet, labor intensity and other factors also affect stature and weight, which affects Chinese Ibm values as well.

Key words: Ibm; Latitude; Longitude; Correlation; Chinese