Background. The growth and development of children is dependent on hereditary and environmental factors. Thus, secular trends in growth processes of children can be important indicators of changes in the country’s public health and economic conditions. The purpose of our work was to analyze the dynamics of parameters of body weight, height and chest circumference in children aged 4–7 years from Minsk over the last 80 years.

Materials and methods. The present study is based on cross-sectional data of 802 children (409 boys and 393 girls) aged between 4 and 7 years from Minsk, Belarus, measured in 2001–2002. The height, weight, chest circumference were measured according to standard anthropometrical methods, BMI was calculated. The materials obtained in 2001–2002 were compared with measurements from previous studies (1923, 1950, 1972–1973, 1990–1991).

Results. Substantial growth for values of body sizes from 1923 to 2001–2002 in boys and girls in all the investigated age groups has been found. The most significant shifts in parameters of physical development in children fall to the time period between 1920 and 1970 while the period from 1980 to 2000 is characterized by smaller intensity of changes.

Conclusions. Positive secular trends occurred in 4–7 year old children from Minsk, Belarus, between 1923 and 2002, which may reflect the secular changes in socio-economic status.

Keywords: anthropometry, children, secular changes