Anthropometric data of preschool children in São Paulo city

Abstract

An anthropometric data bank can be very useful to architectonic projects and industrial design adjustment. School spaces and furniture could be better projected if children's anthropometric information were avaiable. This study has determined anthropometric measures in 400 male and female children attending public City preschools in São Paulo (SP, Brazil), in age groups 4-5, 5-6, and 6-7 years old. Standard deviation and percentiles 5%, 50%, 95% were determined for each measurement and the results were compared with those of same-age English children; Brasilian children.s measures were also compared to measurements made in seat-and-table kits found in one of the preschools, showing sharp inadequacy of furniture.