Anthropometric survey of the elderly in south-western Nigeria

One hundred and ninety-four subjects aged 65-78 years from rural and urban areas of the south-western region of Nigeria have been surveyed for height, weight, upper arm, hip and waist circumferences. The 24-hour dietary recall technique was also employed to assess their dietary energy intake. In both rural and urban cohorts, male subjects were significantly taller and weighed more (p < 0.05) than female subjects. There were no significant differences in the height of rural groups and their respective urban groups, although urban males and females weighed significantly (p < 0.05) more than their respective rural counterparts. Mean body mass index (BMI) ranged from 18.4 to 21.1kgm^-2, and 73% of all subjects had a BMI below 20% and 10% were below 18.5. Waist, hip and upper arm circumferences of urban cohorts consistently exceeded those of rural subjects, although only for females were these differences statistically (p < 0.05) significant. Significant differences observed in the energy intake (per kg body weight) are offered as one explanation for the superior anthropometric indices of urban as compared with rural elderly in Nigeria.     

Urban–rural contrasts in the growth status of school children in Oaxaca,Mexico

Objectives:?The growth status of school children resident in an urban colonia and in a rural indigenous community in Oaxaca, southern Mexico, was considered in the context of two objectives, current status and the magnitude of urban–rural differences over a span of about 30 years. Both communities were initially surveyed in 1968 and 1972.

Materials and methods:?Height, body mass, segment lengths, skeletal breadths, limb circumferences, and subcutaneous fatness were taken on 361 rural (177 boys, 184 girls) and 339 urban (173 boys, 166 girls) school children, aged 6–13 years. Additional variables were derived.

Results:?Height and body mass were significantly greater in urban compared with rural children. Sitting height, estimated leg length and skeletal breadths on the trunk were also larger in urban than in rural school children, but only the difference in skeletal breadths was significant after age and body size were statistically controlled. Urban and rural children did not consistently differ in skeletal breadths on the extremities and limb circumferences. Subcutaneous fatness was more variable. After controlling for age and body size, rural girls had thicker skinfolds. The magnitude of the urban–rural difference in boys in 2000 was greater for body mass, BMI and triceps skinfold, and reduced for height, sitting height, leg length, and arm and estimated arm muscle circumferences compared with 1970. The magnitude of the urban–rural difference in girls was greater in 2000 than 30 years earlier for body mass, height, sitting height, leg length and BMI. Urban–rural differences for arm and arm muscle circumferences and the triceps skinfold were slightly smaller over the interval.

Conclusions:?Children resident in an urban colonia were taller and heavier than children resident in a rural indigenous community. After controlling for age and body size, urban–rural differences in skeletal breadths and limb circumferences were reduced or eliminated, but skinfold thicknesses were greater in rural girls. The magnitude of urban–rural differences in body size has decreased over approximately 30 years in boys, but has increased in girls.     

Urban-rural contrasts in the growth status of school children in Oaxaca, Mexico

OBJECTIVES: The growth status of school children resident in an urban colonia and in a rural indigenous community in Oaxaca, southern Mexico, was considered in the context of two objectives, current status and the magnitude of urban-rural differences over a span of about 30 years. Both communities were initially surveyed in 1968 and 1972. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Height, body mass, segment lengths, skeletal breadths, limb circumferences, and subcutaneous fatness were taken on 361 rural (177 boys, 184 girls) and 339 urban (173 boys, 166 girls) school children, aged 6-13 years. Additional variables were derived. RESULTS: Height and body mass were significantly greater in urban compared with rural children. Sitting height, estimated leg length and skeletal breadths on the trunk were also larger in urban than in rural school children, but only the difference in skeletal breadths was significant after age and body size were statistically controlled. Urban and rural children did not consistently differ in skeletal breadths on the extremities and limb circumferences. Subcutaneous fatness was more variable. After controlling for age and body size, rural girls had thicker skinfolds. The magnitude of the urban-rural difference in boys in 2000 was greater for body mass, BMI and triceps skinfold, and reduced for height, sitting height, leg length, and arm and estimated arm muscle circumferences compared with 1970. The magnitude of the urban-rural difference in girls was greater in 2000 than 30 years earlier for body mass, height, sitting height, leg length and BMI. Urban-rural differences for arm and arm muscle circumferences and the triceps skinfold were slightly smaller over the interval. CONCLUSIONS: Children resident in an urban colonia were taller and heavier than children resident in a rural indigenous community. After controlling for age and body size, urban-rural differences in skeletal breadths and limb circumferences were reduced or eliminated, but skinfold thicknesses were greater in rural girls. The magnitude of urban-rural differences in body size has decreased over approximately 30 years in boys, but has increased in girls.     

Obesity and regional fat distribution in Kenyan populations: Impact of ethnicity and urbanization

Background: Obesity is increasing rapidly in Africa, and may not be associated with the same changes in body composition among different ethnic groups in Africa.

Objective: To assess abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat thickness, prevalence of obesity, and differences in body composition in rural and urban Kenya.

Subjects and methods: In a cross-sectional study carried out among Luo, Kamba and Maasai in rural and urban Kenya, abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat thicknesses were measured by ultrasonography. Height and weight, waist, mid-upper arm circumferences, and triceps skinfold thickness were measured. Body mass index (BMI), arm fat area (AFA) and arm muscle area (AMA) were calculated.

Results: Among 1430 individuals (58.3% females) aged 17–68 years, abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat, BMI, AFA and waist circumference (WC) increased with age, and were highest in the Maasai and in the urban population. AMA was only higher with increasing age among males. The prevalence of overweight (BMI ≥ 25) (39.8% vs. 15.8%) and obesity (BMI ≥ 30) (15.5% vs. 5.1%) was highest in the urban vs. rural population.

Conclusion: Abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat thickness was higher with urban residency. A high prevalence of overweight and obesity was found. The Maasai had the highest overall fat accumulation.     

Postpartum nutritional status of Filipino women

Postpartum weight, body mass index (BMI), triceps skinfold thicknesses (TSF) and upper arm circumferences (AC) were measured bimonthly for 24 months in a large cohort of urban and rural Filipino women. Weight loss, leading to an increasing prevalence of low BMI (<18.5) is the norm in this population where dietary intakes of energy, calcium, and iron fall below WHO recommended intakes. The effects of lactation on postpartum changes in weight and TSF during 6-month intervals were examined by stratifying women into groups defined by lactation duration. In addition, multivariate models were used to examine the effects of lactation on changes in weight or TSF while controlling for other factors such as energy intake, seasonality, morbidity, pregnancy interval, parity, and age. Lactation was associated with significantly increased weight losses from birth to 18 months postpartum. Furthermore, full lactation (breast-feeding with the addition of less than 20 kcal/day to the infant's diet) also significantly increased weight loss in the first 6 months, when the overall duration of lactation in that interval was controlled. Lactation had a small but statistically significant effect on changes in TSF as well. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Pulmonary function of herdsmen

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the pulmonary function deficit documented previously in Fulani children is also present in adult Fulani herdsmen in northern Nigeria. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The subjects for this study consisted of adult Fulani men from the hamlet of Magama Gumau and adult non-Fulani men from the city of Jos. Age, height, weight, mid-arm circumference (MAC), triceps skin-fold thickness, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced expiratory flow during the middle half of the FVC maneuver (FEF25-75%), and peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) were measured. Body mass index (BMI) and FEV1/FVC were calculated for all subjects. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify correlations between pulmonary function parameters and anthropometric variables. RESULTS: The 44 Fulani subjects and 28 urban subjects were well-matched for age and height. The Fulani men weighed significantly less than the urban men (58.5+/-9.4 versus 67.4+/-11.3 kg, p <0.001) and consequently had significantly lower BMI, MAC, and triceps skin-fold thickness. The only significant difference in pulmonary function parameters between the two groups was in FEV1/FVC (0.93+/-0.1 versus 0.85+/-0.1, p <0.001). Small but significant correlations were found between pulmonary function parameters and anthropometric variables for both study populations. CONCLUSIONS: The pulmonary function deficits documented previously in Fulani children and adolescents were not present in adult Fulani men. However, the observed elevation in FEV1/FVC in the rural Fulani men as compared to their urban counterparts, which is often seen in restrictive pulmonary patterns, deserves further study.     

Study of growth in rural school children from Buenos Aires, Argentina using upper arm muscle area by height and other anthropometric dimensions of body composition

The primary objective was to compare growth and body composition in an infantile rural population by means of the upper arm muscle area by height and other antropometric measurements. Research was carried out by way of a cross sectional study, including 80% (321 6-13 year olds) of the schoolchildren living in General Lavalle, a rural community of about 3000 inhabitants. The methods and procedures included the evaluation of mother's educational levels and anthropometric measurements. Height (H), weight, mid upper arm circumference, and triceps skinfold (TS) were measured. The body mass index (BMI), the upper arm muscle area (UAMA), the upper arm fat area (UAFA) and the upper arm muscle area by height (UAMAH) were calculated. Variables were grouped by gender and age and transformed into z-scores, using the US anthropometric standards as reference. The results showed that: (1) the mother educational status was, in relation to z-scores, as in an urban population, and (2) the z-scores for BMI, UAFA and TS were above the reference, while the ones for H, UAMA and UAMAH were below the reference. The differences between z-scores in relation to mother's educational levels were statistically significant (p < 0.05). UAMA was correlated strongly with H (r = 0.67). The children of General Lavalle tend to be fatty and overweight, while their muscle mass and H are proportionally low, but with values within the reference. Thus, low muscle mass and H are, in general terms, indicative of low protein reserves, the systematically low-anthropometry found for UAMAH suggests that this index should be used in conjunction with other indexes (e.g. BMI, UAFA) to obtain a more complete assessment of body composition and nutritional status.     

Somatic comparisons of urban and rural Russian boys,ages 6, 9, and 15 years,living in St. Petersburg and surrounding areas

Somatic data were collected during September 1991 on 280 males, ages 6, 9, and 15 years, residing in urban St. Petersburg, Russia, and in rural regions surrounding the city. Comparisons are made between urban and rural groups for measures of body size and form, skinfold thicknesses, body mass index (BMI), and estimated arm muscle area (ARM). The data were analyzed in 2 (urban-rural) × 3 (age) analyses of variance, with an alpha level of P < 0.05. Age differences were evident for all measurements. A significant main effect for urban-rural was found for stature, lower limb height, and calf girth; differences approached significance (P < 0.07) for body weight and sitting height. Urban children were larger than rural children in stature, sitting height, lower limb height, calf girth, and body weight. The interaction was nonsignificant. Urban and rural boys did not differ on measures of body form. Similar means were obtained for the sum of skinfolds, the BMI, and ARM in urban and rural boys. Compared with data collected more than a century ago, present-day 15-year-olds are 22 cm taller. It has often been suggested that living in an urban environment provides greater access to the amenities of life than living in a rural area. Although these amenities are difficult to observe differences do exist and the secular trend continues. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Evaluation of some anthropometric indices for the diagnosis of obesity in pregnancy in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

Background

Obesity in pregnancy is a global health problem which is associated with poor pregnancy outcomes. The use of weight and height, measured at about ten weeks of gestation, to produce pre-gestational body mass index is recommended for the diagnoses of the condition but limitations abound in under resourced settings.

Objectives

To measure anthropometric indices such as mid upper arm circumference, calf circumference, waist circumference and waist to hip ratio, for identification of obesity in pregnancy.

Methods

Anthropometric measurements were carried out on cohorts of pregnant women from 4 hospitals in Enugu, South-eastern Nigeria.

Results

There were no significant difference in the mean mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) and calf circumference (CC) across the trimester groups. The mean values of waist circumferences, hip circumference and waist to hip ratios changed significantly across the trimesters. The 75^th percentile of MUAC (33 cm) and CC (39 cm) in all trimesters, had sensitivity and specificity of more than 70% for identifying obesity in pregnancy.

Conclusion

MUAC and CC values of 33cm and 39cm respectively might be reliable cut off points for diagnoses of obesity throughout pregnancy in Enugu, Nigeria     

江西汉族城市成人围度值及其年龄变化

目的 探讨江西汉族城市成人围度值及其年龄变化特点。方法 采用随机抽样方法,测量江西307人（男151,女156）城市汉族成人的头围、颈围、胸围、吸气胸围、呼气胸围、腹围、臀围、大腿围、小腿围、上臂围、前臂围、上臂最大围12项围度值,分析不同年龄组围度值的变化规律;采用聚类分析方法,与国内的18个族群进行比较。结果 方差分析结果显示,男性与女性胸围、吸气胸围、呼气胸围、腹围、大腿围、小腿围、上臂围、上臂最大围在年龄组间的差异显著。此外女性前臂围在年龄组间的差异显著。相关分析显示,男性腹围与年龄呈正相关,小腿围、上臂围、上臂最大围与年龄呈负相关。女性胸围、呼气围、腹围、上臂围与年龄呈正相关。腹围、臀围、大腿围值不存在性别间的显著性差异,其余9项围度值在性别间差异均存在统计学意义,且男性值明显高于女性。结论 江西汉族城市成人围度值具有我国北亚类型族群的特征。     

Age and sex variations in adiposity and central fat distribution among elderly Bengalee Hindus of Calcutta, India.

BACKGROUND: Although a sizeable portion of India's population (13%, over 110 million) is elderly (aged > 55 years) very little information exists on their levels of adiposity and central body fat distribution. AIM: The present study seeks to investigate age and sex variations in adiposity and central fat distribution among urban elderly Bengalee men and women. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 410 (210 men and 200 women) elderly (> 55 years) urban Bengalee Hindu individuals resident in Calcutta, India, was undertaken utilizing various measures of adiposity and central fat distribution. RESULTS: There existed significant sex differences in various anthropometric variables and indices. Age had significant negative association with most variables and indices in both sexes. In general, the associations were much stronger in men. Regression analysis demonstrated that age had significant negative effect on height, sitting height (SH), weight, body mass index (BMI), minimum waist (MWC), maximum hip (MHC) and mid upper arm (MUAC) circumferences and triceps skinfold (TSF), in both sexes. Age also had significant negative impact on conicity index (CI) in men. CONCLUSIONS: The present investigation revealed that there is a significant inverse age trend in adiposity among urban elderly Bengalee Hindus. Moreover, there existed sex differences in the effect of age on various anthropometric measures.     

Somatic comparisons of South Korean children and youths born and reared in a rural area with the descendants of rural to urban migrants

During April–May 2000 somatic data were collected on 236 males and 191 females ages 6, 9, 13, and 15 years residing in rural areas around the communities of Ankye, Euisung, and Kunwi in Kyungsang Puk Do province, South Korea, and 237 males and 219 female of the same ages born and reared at Taegu in families of “rural to urban migrants.” Comparisons were made between urban and rural groups for measures of body size and form, skinfold thickness, the body mass index (BMI), and estimated arm muscle area (ARM). Age at menarche was obtained from school records for the 13‐ and 15‐year‐olds. The data were analyzed in separate 2 (urban–rural) × 4 (age) analyses of variance with an alpha level of P < 0.01. Age differences were significant for all dimensions. There was a significant main effect for urban–rural differences in arm girth, upper limb index, and ARM. Rural males were larger in these variables. Among females, only arm girth was significantly different. Age at menarche was significantly earlier in the urban sample (12.6 years) than in the rural sample (13.0 years). Compared with both recent and earlier data for South Korea, present‐day 6‐, 9‐, 13‐, and 15‐year‐old males and females are taller and heavier at every age, indicating secular gains. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 14:476–485, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Age and sex variations in adiposity and central fat distribution among elderly Bengalee Hindus of Calcutta,India

Background : Although a sizeable portion of India's population (13%, over 110 million) is elderly (aged > 55 years) very little information exists on their levels of adiposity and central body fat distribution. Aim : The present study seeks to investigate age and sex variations in adiposity and central fat distribution among urban elderly Bengalee men and women. Subjects and methods : A cross-sectional study of 410 (210 men and 200 women) elderly (> 55 years) urban Bengalee Hindu individuals resident in Calcutta, India, was undertaken utilizing various measures of adiposity and central fat distribution. Results : There existed significant sex differences in various anthropometric variables and indices. Age had significant negative association with most variables and indices in both sexes. In general, the associations were much stronger in men. Regression analysis demonstrated that age had significant negative effect on height, sitting height (SH), weight, body mass index (BMI), minimum waist (MWC), maximum hip (MHC) and mid upper arm (MUAC) circumferences and triceps skinfold (TSF), in both sexes. Age also had significant negative impact on conicity index (CI) in men. Conclusions : The present investigation revealed that there is a significant inverse age trend in adiposity among urban elderly Bengalee Hindus. Moreover, there existed sex differences in the effect of age on various anthropometric measures.     

Obesity correlates with increased blood pressures in urban native American youth

Although obesity is a growing problem with Native American youth living on reservations, little research has been conducted examining the prevalence of obesity and correlations between age, body composition, dietary intake, and blood pressures (BP) for urban Native youth. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of these variables in urban Native American youth. Height and weight were measured for 155 Native American youth, age 5–18 years, and the body mass index (BMI) was calculated and classified into percentile categories. Skinfold thicknesses at the biceps, triceps, suprailiac, and subscapular sites, arm and waist circumferences, and systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures were also measured. There was a high proportion of obesity (>95 percentile) for youth in all age groups. The prevalence was 38% for the 5–10‐year‐olds and 45% for the 11–18‐year‐olds youth. There were no significant correlations between SBP and DBP and dietary variables. Mean SBP and DBP increased with increasing BMI percentiles. Stepwise regression analyses showed that waist circumference, age, and BMI were strong predictors for SBP, while waist circumference and age were predictors for DBP in the total sample. The findings suggest that overweight/obesity is very prevalent among urban Native American youth and the increased adiposity is associated with increased SBP and DBP. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 15:78–90, 2003. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Influence of urban migration on physical activity, nutritional status and growth of Senegalese adolescents of rural origin

In Africa, rural populations especially adolescent girls resort to urban migrations for labour in order to diversify and improve their livelihood. Their work and their living conditions may influence their health and development patterns. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of these migrations on physical activity, nutritional and growth status of rural Senegalese adolescent girls. In 1998, within the framework of a longitudinal study of growth during puberty (n = 406), a sub-sample (n = 80, 14.4 +/- 0.5 years) was drawn in order to estimate physical activity, during three days, quantitatively by accelerometry and qualitatively by questionnaire. One part of this sample temporarily migrated to Dakar in order to work as maids (migrants, n = 40). The other part remained in the rural community of Niakhar in order to help their families in daily domestic and agricultural tasks and/or to attend school (non-migrants, n = 40). In 1999, sexual maturation of 331 adolescent girls (15.5 +/- 0.5 years) belonging to this group was based on stages of breast development and occurrence of menarche. Their growth and nutritional status were assessed with anthropometry (height, weight, mid arm circumference, six skinfolds). Adolescents were asked about their urban migratory histories and were divided into four categories according to the duration of urban migration: no migration (NM), short (S), medium (M) and long duration (L). These adolescent girls had a very high physical activity which is far higher than that of American girls. Migrants were more active than non-migrants (p < 0.0001). In 1999, as a whole, these 331 adolescent girls were smaller, thinner and less mature than adolescent girls from industrialized countries. Midarm circumference, body mass index (BMI) and fat mass index (FMI) were significantly higher with the duration of migration (p < 0.01), after adjusting for differences in sexual maturation. Growth retardation seemed more important for the adolescent girls who never migrated and for those who have the longest duration of migration (p = 0.05). At the beginning of puberty, there were no differences in height for age indice and BMI. Urban migrations resulted in an advanced puberty and an improvement of nutritional status (higher BMI, FMI and midarm circumference) but without catch-up in growth. These findings could be explained by precarious living conditions in rural area and by higher workload in urban area.     

Differences of height and body mass index of youths in urban vs rural areas in Hunan province of China

Background: Economic reforms in China were implemented approximately 30 years ago. Since then, people's nutrition, living conditions and overall health have continually improved, but there has been an imbalance between the progresses in urban vs rural areas. Height and body mass index (BMI) are regarded as two important indicators of nutritional status and overall health.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate differences in height and BMI between Chinese youths of rural vs urban areas and further, to determine whether these differences have changed over time (1990s vs 2000s).

Subject and methods: 24 194 urban youths and 7130 rural youths were recruited in Hunan province of China. In each gender group, the subjects were divided into eight subsets according to age, geographic area residence, and decade when the youths were measured. Independent t-tests were used to test the differences of height and BMI between the studied groups.

Results: Both male and female youths from urban areas were significantly taller than youths from rural areas in both the 1990s and 2000s (all p<0.001), with the exception of the 1990s female 15–18 years subset (p=0.21). The height of youths was significantly greater in the 2000s compared to the corresponding gender and geographic subset in the 1990s (p<0.001), except for the female 15–18 years subset from rural areas (p=0.10). Similar results were obtained for BMI.

Conclusion: There are significant differences in height and BMI between youths raised in urban vs rural areas, and positive growth trends of height and BMI over time (1990s vs 2000s) in youths in Hunan Province of China.     

Socio-economic factors associated with physique of adults of the Purari delta of the Gulf Province,Papua New Guinea

OBJECTIVE: To examine in detail the relationships between components of the modernization process, including experience of urban life, urban connectedness, education, and the nature and diversity of income sources on adult body size in a Papua New Guinea (PNG) population. METHODS: Mean height, weight and body mass index (BMI) of 292 adults surveyed in 1995-97 in the Purari delta, PNG, are reported by age group, and related to modernization variables including urban life, urban connectedness, economic status and education. RESULTS: With respect to BMI, 23% of males and 24% of females had a BMI greater than 25, while 1% of males and 6% of females had a BMI greater than 30. There were also significant numbers of undernourished individuals, especially among the females, where 13% had BMI below 18.5, compared with 5% of males with BMI below this level. Mean stature of younger adults is greater than that of older adults. For the males, height, weight and BMI are all negatively associated with age-squared, and positively associated with income. Weight is also positively associated with having urban relatives, but not with having lived in any urban centre. For the females, height is positively associated with age-squared, weight is positively associated with both income and number of years of education, while BMI is positively associated with income, and with having urban relatives, but not with urban dwelling per se. CONCLUSIONS: The secular trend toward increasing height may have been underway since the 1950s. Income level, number of years of education and having urban relatives emerge as core factors influencing body size and fatness in the Purari population.     

Spatial parameters of walking gait and footedness

OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken to assess whether footedness has effects on selected spatial and angular parameters of able-bodied gait by evaluating footprints of young adults. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 112 males and 93 females were selected from among students and staff members of the University of Malawi using a simple random sampling method. Footedness of subjects was assessed by the Waterloo Footedness Questionnaire Revised. Gait at natural speed was recorded using the footprint method. The following spatial parameters of gait were derived from the inked footprint sequences of subjects: step and stride lengths, gait angle and base of gait. The anthropometric measurements taken were weight, height, leg and foot length, foot breadth, shoulder width, and hip and waist circumferences. RESULTS: The prevalence of right-, left- and mix-footedness in the whole sample of young Malawian adults was 81%, 8.3% and 10.7%, respectively. One-way analysis of variance did not reveal a statistically significant difference between footedness categories in the mean values of anthropometric measurements (p > 0.05 for all variables). Gender differences in step and stride length values were not statistically significant. Correction of these variables for stature did not change the trend. Males had significantly broader steps than females. Normalized values of base of gait had similar gender difference. The group means of step length and normalized step length of the right and left feet were similar, for males and females. There was a significant side difference in the gait angle in both gender groups of volunteers with higher mean values on the left side compared to the right one (t = 2.64, p < 0.05 for males, and t = 2.78, p < 0.05 for females). One-way analysis of variance did not demonstrate significant difference between footedness categories in the mean values of step length, gait angle, bilateral differences in step length and gait angle, stride length, gait base and normalized gait variables of male and female volunteers (p > 0.05 for all variables). CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that footedness does not affect spatial and angular parameters of walking gait.     

Dietary change and adolescent growth among the Bundi (Gende-speaking) people of Papua New Guinea

In the 1960's, the Bundi had a pattern of slow growth, delayed maturation, and small adult body size due to malnutrition. Since then, improved transportation, wage income, cash cropping, and migration have changed dietary patterns for the Bundi. The purpose of our study was to assess the effects of this general increase in protein and energy intakes on adolescent growth. The data were collected in 1984. Subscapular skinfold thicknesses among rural Bundi children measured in 1984 and 1967 confirm that nutritional status has improved, although current means for height and weight are still below the NCHS 5th percentile. Rural Bundi measure in 1984 were compared to the 1967 data for differences in height and weight. For both sexes, there were increases in growth status and/or the tempo of growth in height and weight. Urban- rural comparisons further contrast the effects of improved nutrition. For males and females, significant differences between urban and rural groups are found mainly in the age range of the adolescent growth spurt. These findings suggest earlier maturation of urban adolescents. Although interpretation of cross-sectional growth data cannot be conclusive, these results suggest that the tempo of growth is the best indicator of nutritional status during adolescenc.     

Body size and form of black girls age 9 years living in central South Carolina and eastern North Carolina

Somatic data were collected during 1986–1987 on 53 Black girls age 9 years living in Calhoun County in rural central South Carolina. Measures of body size (standing height, sitting height, upper limb length, lower limb height, arm girth, hip width, and body weight), body from (lower limb height as a percentage of sitting height, arm girth as a percentage of upper limb length, calf girth as a percentage of lower limb height, hip width as a percentage of lower limb height) and skin-fat thickness (over triceps and on abdomen) were analyzed for central tendency and variability. Comparisons were made with earlier samples of Black girls measured in rural regions of Richland County in central South Carolina during 1975–1976 and in urban Greenville city and rural Pitt County in eastern North Carolina during 1980–1981 as well as with earlier studies conducted in various parts of the United States. The four same-age group samples yielded similar means for standing height, sitting height, arm and calf girth, and body weight. The Calhoun County girls exceeded their Pitt County, North Carolina, peers in lower limb height, upper limb length, and lower limb height as a percentage of sitting height. In each of the subgroups studied, the distribution of measures for skin-fat thicknesses was, to some extent, skewed positively.