BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the secular trends in height, weight and weight/height of schoolchildren from the city of Paulínia, São Paulo, Brazil between 1979/80 and 1993/94. METHODS: Anthropometric measurements (height, weight and weight/height) of 1,903 children (6.5-12.5 y); 51.5% M: 48.5% F, from Paulínia public schools were compared with data from a previous study carried out in the same city 15 years earlier. Decade increments were calculated and data was smoothed by the technique of means and medians (3H3H3). RESULTS: Height and weight mean values were always greater than those of the previous study, with positive increments. Height increments ranged from 1.13 to 5.0 cm in boys and from 1.2 to 4.33 cm in girls. Weight increments ranged from 0.53 to 4.13 kg in males and from 0.87 to 3.0 kg in females. In the two studies, weight/height means were very similar for both genders. CONCLUSIONS: Increments in height and weight during this period are an indicator of development on the economical and health levels. A positive secular trend was also observed in developed countries after the 2nd World War and in the Brazilian people.504386390