Abstract: This research used Stevenson and DuBois’ formulae to calculate the average body surface area of 7-18 year-old adolescents in 30 cities throughout China, and then used factor analysis to obtain growth scores. Correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the growth scores, natural environment and socio-economic environment to determine the comprehensive effects of the environmental factors on adolescents body surface area growth. The results show that the development of body surface area of urban Chinese adolescents has regional differences. Specifically, the body surface area in the top five samples were located in circum-Bohai Sea region. Growth scores had a conspicuousness positive correlation with longitude and latitude, sunshine duration, annual range of temperature, GDP per capita, disposable income per capita and number of medical technicians per 1000 people. Growth scores had a negative correlation with altitude, annual precipitation, relative humidity, Engel’s coefficients, birth rate, rate of population increase and children’s burden rate. The key factors that affected adolescent body surface area growth of urban Chinese were altitude, annual average humidity, Engel’s coefficients and children’s burden rate. Environmental factors that influenced body surface area growth come from the result of co-interaction between the natural and socioeconomic environments.

Key words: Environment; Urban; Adolescent; China; Body surface area; Growth