GROWTH-PATTERN OF ADOLESCENT MEITEI BOYS END GIRLS OF MANIPUR

The study reports on the growth pattern for 14 anthropometric measurem ents in 321 adolescent Meitei boys and girls, ranging in ages from 11 to 18 years, residing in the Thoubal District of Manipur. The anthropo metric data include weight, height, sitting height, biacromial diamete r, bicristal diameter, head, chest, upper and calf circumferences, tri ceps, biceps, subscapular, suprailiac and calf skinfolds. our findings reveal that Meitei girls show distinctly more subcutaneous fat at all ages than boys. For ail other morphological traits boys exhibited lar ger dimensions except for 13 to 15 years in weight, height, sitting he ight, biacromial diameter, upper arm circumference and calf circumfere nce. Sample boys and girls are found to be shorter and lighter at all ages when compared to US, Urban Chinese and well nourished Indian chil dren. The comprehensive picture of the growth status of Meitei adolesc ents with respect to national as well as international standards may b e generalised as poor.