目的：了解经济不发达地区3～9岁儿童在营养状况相对较差时血清瘦素的水平及与相关生长发育指标的关系。方法：根据年龄和性别将研究对象分为<6岁女孩组(F36组)、<6岁男孩组(M36)、≥6岁女孩组(F69组)和≥6岁男孩组(M69组)共4组,调查其年龄、体重、身高并计算体重指数(BMI)、体脂百分量(BF%),使用双抗体夹心ELISA法检测瘦素浓度,比较各组间瘦素浓度的差异,同时在各组分析瘦素与各指标间的相关性。结果：①瘦素浓度在同性别比较中,差异无显著性(P>0.05),在同年龄比较中,女孩明显高于男孩(P<0.05);②无论是男孩还是女孩,在3～6岁儿童瘦素与BMI和BF无明显相关(P>0.05),而在6～9岁儿童瘦素浓度与BMI和BF显著相关(P<0.05)。结论：在经济不发达地区3～9岁儿童中瘦素存在性别差异,6～9岁儿童中瘦素与BMI和BF密切相关。

OBJECTIVE: To study the serum leptin level and its relation to physical development in children, aged between 3 and 9 years, from an undeveloped region of China. METHODS: A total of 280 children aged between 3-9 years from a kindergarten and an elementary school of an undeveloped county of Hubei Province (147 boys and 133 girls) were enrolled in this study. They were divided into four groups according the age and gender: 3-6 year-old boy / girl group and 6-9 year-old boy / girl group. Their weights and heights were measured and body mass index (BMI) and body fat precentage(BFP) were calculated. The serum leptin level was detected using ELISA and was compared between the groups. The correlation between the serum leptin level and physical development parameters was evaluated. RESULTS: Serum leptin levels in the girls were significantly higher than those in the boys in the same age group (P <0.05), but no differences were found between children aged 3-9 years of the same gender. The leptin level was obviously correlated with BMI and BFP in both boys and girls aged 6 to 9 years (P<0.05), but not in children aged 3 to 6 years. CONCLUSIONS: The serum leptin level was different between boys and girls in children aged 3 to 9 years in the undeveloped region. It was correlated to BMI and BFP in children aged 6 to 9 years.