ABSTRACT
The analysis of the previous chapter documented tremendous improvement in the anthropometric status of the Chinese since the early-1950s. The analysis also showed that the improvement was somewhat greater in southern China and for the rural population relative to that in northern China and for the urban population. However, despite more rapid improvement in anthropometric status in southern China and among the rural population, the 1979 national anthropometric survey showed that the population residing in those areas is still considerably shorter and lighter than their northern and urban counterparts.
