Proceedings of the 31st Annual Conference of the Human Ergology Society

Twenty-two measurements were obtained in 1994-1995 from 117 female and 130 male infants aged 1 to 7 living in the central region of Tokyo. The results are summarized as follows: 1) Differences between standing stature and laid-down body length: On the average, the latter was 1.6 cm larger in girls and 1.9 cm larger in boys than the former. But the difference decreased with age until 4 years old. 2) Sex differences: For each of the age groups, the measurements in the trunk were smaller in girls than in boys for height and breadth, but vice versa for circumferences and skinfold thickness. Head length was a little smaller and head circumference and head breadth were remarkably smaller in girls than in boys. This means that the boys are more brachycephalic than the girls. Foot circumference and breadth were remarkably smaller in girls than in boys. Statistically significant differences (boys>girls) were detected in sagittal chest depth, head circumference, foot sizes, and head breadth. 3) Regional differences: Comparing with the Fukaya infants in Saitama Prefecture, the Tokyo infants were larger except for hip circumference and triceps skinfold thickness in both sexes. 4) Secular changes: Comparing with infants in Tokyo and its outskirts measured in 1950-1951, the infants in the present day are taller but slimmer in both sexes, whereas head measurements are almost similar.