Beaconhouse Anthropometric Study

The Beaconhouse Anthropometric Study (2021), conducted by the Research & Development Cell, Education Department, presents a ten-year trend analysis (2011–2021) of student height and weight data (ages 3–18) collected through the BEAMS management system. This large-scale quantitative study aims to identify growth patterns, gender differences, and city-wise variations to inform evidence-based decisions in student health, nutrition, and physical education policies across Beaconhouse schools.

The study utilizes over a decade of longitudinal data comprising 18 variables per student, cleaned and visualized using Excel and Tableau to remove outliers and inconsistencies. Separate trend lines were generated for each age group and gender, alongside city-wise comparisons. Results reveal consistent upward trends in both average height and weight from ages 3 to 16, though the rate of weight gain exceeded that of height increase—particularly in older age groups. Between ages 3 and 13, male and female students showed comparable averages; beyond this, males exhibited steadily higher height and weight gains, while female metrics plateaued or declined slightly in late adolescence.

Notably, a sharp decline in average female weight at age 18 was observed, contrasting with steady male weight gain. Statistical tests (p > 0.05 for several trend lines) indicated data inconsistencies in some categories, especially for ages 17–18, due to smaller sample sizes. When benchmarked against WHO growth standards, Beaconhouse students generally demonstrated healthy growth trajectories, though localized deviations in smaller cities (e.g., Sukkur, Nowshera, Abbottabad) suggested environmental or sampling effects.

The study concludes that Beaconhouse students’ growth patterns align broadly with international norms but emphasize the need for standardized data collection, periodic anthropometric monitoring, and targeted well-being interventions—especially for adolescent girls. The report lays a foundation for future research in school-based health and nutrition programs, integrating physical growth data into holistic student development frameworks.