In the view of contemporary knowledge, it is indisputable that development of man results from correlations between factors determined by genetic programme, and impact of environment. This manuscript reports observations of 147 students from External Department of Physical Education (EDPE) in Biała Podlaska conducted intermittently in the years 2000–2003. Measurements enabled evaluating somatic types of men with Sheldon’s method modified by Heat and Carter. Changes in physical development were analyzed in urban (n498) and rural (n449) groups of adolescents. Results were elaborated statistically. In both surveyed groups, body height values were observed to increase by nearly 1 cm, whereas body mass values – by 6 kg. The width of elbow increased by 0.18 cm, whereas the knee width increased slightly more, i. e. by ca. 0.20 cm. Arm circumference was observed to increase by 1.63 cm and 1.31 cm in urban and rural group, respectively. In turn, shank circumference was demonstrated to increase by ca. 0.70 cm. In urban group, the level of endomorphym increased by 0.48 point, that of mesomorphy by 0.71 point, whilst that of ectomorphy decreased by 0.65 points. In turn, in case of students originating from rural areas the level of endomorphy increased by 0.26 point, that of mesomorphy by 0.69 point, whereas the regress of ectomorphy accounted for 0.61 point. The extent of changes in physical development of academic adolescents originating from various environments was demonstrated to be affected by low physical mobility linked with study.