Background. Growth and development differ between populations, and these differences are
related with the impact of internal (e. g., ethnicity) and external (e. g., socio-economic status)
factors. The aim of the present study was to reveal the peculiarities of physical status in preschool
children of Lithuanian and non-Lithuanian nationalities (mainly Poles and Russians)
in Vilnius, and to verify the suitability of the existing reference standards, based on the studies
of children of Lithuanian nationality, for evaluation of the physical development of children of
other nationalities.
Materials and methods. Data from a cross-sectional study carried out in 2003–2006 in
Vilnius kindergartens are presented. In total, the authors investigated 1259 healthy preschool
children 3–6 years old. Height, leg length (symphysion height), weight, shoulder breadth, hip
breadth, chest, waist and hip circumferences were measured according to standard anthropometrical
methods; the BMI was calculated. The data were analysed according to parental ethnicity
and socio-economic status.
Results. Physical development of Lithuanian and non-Lithuanian preschool children was
very similar. Factor analysis showed that there was no linear correlation between body size and
shape indices, ethnicity and social items.
Conclusions. The existing reference standards fit for preschool children of other ethnicities,
mainly Poles and Russians. Nevertheless, a study on the physical status of schoolchildren of different
ethnicities should be conducted in Lithuania with the purpose to reveal the differences
(according to several reports, certain inequalities in the physical status of children of different
ethnicity worldwide appear mostly during sexual maturation).