Abstract: Using factor analysis to determine the we1ghted coefficient of body height, weight and chest circumfesence, the growth scores of Chinese youth, aged 18 years, were calculated in 28 big cities.
It was found that the growth score of northern youth was higher than southern (P < 0.005) and the score order of male and female of 28 cities was rather similar (r=0.8590 P < 0.005).
Correlations were analized between growth score and environmental factors ( geographical environment, climatic, river system) in order to study the influence of the environment factors to growth and development. The significant correlations (male r= 0.6558, female r= 0.6715, P<0.01) were found in growth score and geographical latitude. The growth score and most of climatical factors were all significantly correlated and the correlations coefficients between the growth score and sunshine duration, mean annual range of temperature were highest. In the multiple stepwise regression analysis of growth score and climatical factor, the first two variables selected were sunshine and mean annual range of temperature in male and female, too. This shows the importance of the sunshine and mean annual range of temperature growth. Growth score in each river system was significantly different: Yellow River was highest, Yangtze River was middle and Pearl River was lowest. The difference of the water quality was similar to the growth difference in the three river systems.
The study shows that the natural environment factor was one of important factors affecting human growth.

Key words: Human growth and development; Influence factor on growth; Geographical environment; Climatical factor