A nationwide survey conducted the country’s health authorities has revealed that Chinese people have grown taller and stronger over the 2002-2012 period, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
The National Health and Family Planning Commission announced the release of the report during a press conference on June 30.
According to the "2015 report on Chinese nutrition and chronic disease," the average height and weight of adult men was 167.1 centimeters and 66.2 kilograms in 2012, and 155.8 centimeters and 57.3 kilograms for women, which have shown improvement from 2002 data.
The report said that Chinese male and female aged between 6 and 17 years old showed significant increases in height and weight.
During the 2002-2012 period, the survey showed that urban boys in the said age group were 2.3 centimeters higher and 3.6 kilograms heavier, while girls were 1.8 centimeters higher and 2.1 kilograms heavier.
On the other hand, boys from the rural areas in the same age group were 4.1 centimeters higher and 4.7 kilograms heavier, while girls were 3.5 centimeters higher and 3.4 kilograms heavier in 2012 as compared to 2002 levels.
In evaluating nutrition, the authorities most frequently used height and weight as basis, which are essential in determining child growth and development, the report said.
It took one and a half years for researchers to finish the report, which was based on latest data from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Cancer Center and other institutes.
China conducted its first public nutrition and health survey in 2002 and announced the results in 2004. Since 2004, the nation has undertaken field surveys every three years to collect data on causes of death, chronic diseases and other health issues.