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Intergenerational changes in limb circumferences in children and adolescents aged 3‐18 from Kraków (Poland) from 1983 to 2010
Author(s) -
Kryst Łukasz,
Woronkowicz Agnieszka,
Kowal Małgorzata,
Sobiecki Jan
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
american journal of human biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.559
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1520-6300
pISSN - 1042-0533
DOI - 10.1002/ajhb.23165
Subject(s) - demography , secular variation , hum , anthropometry , medicine , skinfold thickness , geography , art , sociology , performance art , art history
Objectives Measurements of body circumferences are often used in anthropology. The research on this topic, however, rarely concerns limb girths or secular trends. The main aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of secular trends in selected limb circumferences among children and adolescents. Methods The research was based on measurements from two cross‐sectional studies carried out in 1983 and 2010 with children and adolescents aged 3‐18 from Krakow, Poland. The circumferences of the arm, forearm, thigh and calf, as well as the sum of circumferences and selected indicators, were analyzed. The series were compared using the two‐way anova test. Results In most age groups of both sexes, a positive secular trend was observed for the majority of studied traits. The exception was the thigh circumference, for which, among girls, measurements in both series were similar, and negative intergenerational changes were recorded in the youngest age groups of both sexes as well as among the oldest girls. Most observed discrepancies were statistically significant in pre‐school children and adolescents. Conclusions The presence of positive secular trends shows that limb circumferences were increasing in subsequent generations, especially in boys. Contemporary girls, particularly in the older age groups, were more determined to have a slim figure and practiced conscious weight control. Summarizing, observed tendencies resulted from the improvement of socio‐economic conditions, but were also related to the low level of physical activity.