Secular trends in height, weight and body mass index of Bangladeshi university female students from measurement year 1985 to 2003

The aim of the present study was to document the presence of specific secular trends in body dimensions of Bangladeshi university female students. Height and weight were measured, and body mass index was calculated in a sample (n=1109) of first year female students of the Rajshahi University, Bangladesh, investigated the measurement year from 1985 to 2003. The subjects were all of Bangladeshi birth and ancestry. The samples were classified into 19 groups according to measurement year cohorts from 1985 to 2003. Trends in body measurements were examined by analysis of variance and linear regression analysis. Utilizing an ANOVA, height showed significant differences (p< 0.01) overall measurement year cohorts from 1985 to 2003. However, weight and body mass iindex did not display significant ANOVA differences. Nevertheless, the slope of the regression line showed an increasing tendency for height and weight during the investigated period. The body mass index displayed remained unchanged, but slightly decreasing tendency was observed during the measurement period. These results suggest that the Bangladeshi adult female students have been improving health day by day.