ABSTRACT
The first of the numerous and extensive anthropometric surveys of the Chinese population undertaken during the twentieth century were conducted by foreign doctors in the early-1900s. By the 1930s and 40s, more scientific and comprehensive anthropometric surveys were being undertaken by Chinese doctors in conjunction with local health departments and school boards. Anthropometric research in China accelerated in the 1950s when large-scale standardized surveys were carried out in most provinces. The largest of these surveys was conducted in 1952 and collected measurements on 1.4 million individuals in six central and southern provinces. Interest in anthropometric research temporarily waned during the 1960s and early-70s, but resumed with a major anthropometric survey conducted in 1975. In 1979 a large-scale national anthropometric survey was carried out and collected measurements on over 200,000 individuals in 16 municipalities and provinces. Together, these many anthropometric surveys of the Chinese are of great value in documenting the nutritional status of the Chinese during the twentieth century.
