Growth, development, and physical fitness of Flemish vegetarian children, adolescents, and young adults

This study was designed to assess average daily dietary intakes of energy i n 82 vegetarian children (group A: 6-9-y-old girls and 6-11-y-old boys), ad olescents (group B: 10-15-y-old girls and 12-17-y-old boys), and young adul ts (group C: 16-30-y-old females and 18-30-y-old males) and included determ ination of height and weight; triceps, suprailiac, and calf skinfold thickn esses; puberty ratings; and physical fitness. Dietary energy intake was low er than recommended values in all 3 groups. Height and weight did not diffe r significantly from the reference data except in group B, which had signif icantly lower heights and weights and lower body mass indexes (P < 0.05). T riceps and suprailiac skinfold thicknesses were lower in all age groups, wh ereas the calf skinfold thickness was only significantly lower in the 10-15 -y-old girls (P < 0.05). The vegetarian children were as physically fit as the reference group. The vegetarian adolescent boys and girls and the young adults scored significantly lower on the standing long jump and 30-s sit-u p (P < 0.05). The vegetarian subjects of groups B and C recovered significa ntly faster from the step test (P < 0.05). Puberty ratings plotted on perce ntile graphs showed that all vegetarian subjects, except for 1 girl, were w ithin the normal developmental range. We conclude that, within the limits o f this study, vegetarian subjects have lower relative body weights and skin fold thicknesses in adolescence than do nonvegetarians. They scored lower o n the strength tests and better on the cardiorespiratory test when compared with reference values. The growth and maturation status of the vegetarian population were within the normal range.