Abstract: The HeathCarter somatotyping method was used to study the adult somatotypes among 494 Bouyei individuals (259 males; 235 females) in Guizhou province. This comparison of somatotypes was between northern and southern nationalities. Results of this research were : (1) The mean somatotype for both sexes was endomesomorphic, where males and females ranged between 3.0-5.3-2.4and 4.3-4.9-1.9 respectively. (2) With age in males, the value of endomorphic traits hardly changed, mesomorph increased and ectomorph decreased and generally changes of male somatotypes were small. (3) With age in females, endomorphic and ectomorphic features increased but mesomorphic decreased.

Key words: HeathCarter; Somatotyping method; Anthropometry; Bouyei