Abstract

The present study was conducted among the Gadaba boys and girls of Bastar District in order to evaluate the pattern of growth in height and weight among them. The data comprises 581 children (297 boys and 284 girls) ranging in age from 6 to 16 years, measured cross-sectionally. The present study reveals that the girls attain peak height velocity (PHV) and peak weight velocity (PWV) somewhat earlier than boys with greater magnitude of weight and lesser magnitude of height. The 50^th percentile of the present sample indicates their status between 50^th percentile of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS). The trend of physical growth as observed in height and weight may be expected to serve as the growth standards of Gadaba children of Bastar.

Key words:    Physical growth, distance curve, velocity curve, Gadaba tribe, percentile.