Positive Secular Trend in Slovak Population Urges on Updates of Functional Dimensions of Furniture

Abstract

The presented study is focused on the evaluation of the changes in weight and height of the adult population in Slovakia to provide updated information on the secular growth trend. The main objective was to identify and quantify the pace of gradual changes in the dimensions of the Slovak adult population, which is key ergonomic information for multiple disciplines. The measurements of weights, heights and body mass indices of the current adult population of Slovakia ranging from 26 to 94 years of age that were obtained in period 1993–2017 were compared with a sample of students studying at four Slovak universities during the same years (aged 18 to 25). The increase of mean heights was app. 0.104–0.203 cm per one year (or app. 1–2 cm per decade) for males and app. 0.031–0.178 cm per one year (or app. 0.3–1.8 cm per decade) for females was statistically confirmed at different age classes covering the age structure of the whole adult population. The positive secular height trends were manifested in weight and BMI increases too. The changes in means and variation of distributions of selected variables also cause changes in quantile values. For example, the 95% quantiles of heights derived for the period 1993–2003 only cover 92–93% of the heights in the current population. This fact could have a major impact on proposals for optimal and safe arrangement of work, residential and non-residential space, including the furniture production.

Construction of Wood-Based Lamella for Increased Load on Seating Furniture

“…In Slovakia, the effect of body weight on the size of chair joints was analysed in the study [46]. At the same time, the effect of a secular trend on functional dimensions of furniture was studied [47]. Czech authors [48] dealt with the use of anthropometric data in connection with seating and bed furniture as well.…”

Work Standardization and Anthropometric Workstation Design as an Integrated Approach to Sustainable Workplaces in the Manufacturing Industry

“…Finally, Lee and Cha [50] report that console operators in nuclear power plants face human-computer interaction problems due to inappropriate console design; consequently, they redesigned the consoles by considering anthropometry. In conclusion, based on the previous examples, the correct use of anthropometry in workstation redesign improves the well-being, health, comfort, and safety of operators [51].…”

Trends in Body Height, Body Weight, BMI, and Nutrition Status from 1979 to 1987: A Measurement-Based Analysis of 10,954 Male Adolescents from the Municipality of Bijelo Polje

“…If only the period covered by this study is observed (from 1979 to 1987), changes in body height are not visible, which is logical, because a nine-year period is too short for a noticeable secular trend (Hitka et al, 2018;Lopuszanska-Dawid et al). Furthermore, it is interesting to compare the average body weight and body mass index of respondents from this study (measured from 1979 to 1987), whose value is 66.62±8.35 kg for body weight and 21.55±2.29 kg/m 2 for body mass index, with respondents measured by Gardasevic et al (2015), also on a sample of Montenegrin adolescents.…”