Secular trends of 22 body dimensions in four racial/cultural groups of American males

Abstract

Data from the recent U.S. Army Anthropometric Survey provide a unique opportunity to assess long-term changes in body dimensions within the Army population. This report considers secular trends for 22 body dimensions within four racial/cultural groups: Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, and Asian/Pacific Islanders. Individuals were grouped by year of birth into 5 year cohorts, spanning 1911 to 1970. Rates of secular change were calculated by regressing age-adjusted dimensions against birth year cohort. Results showed that almost all dimensions sustained statistically significant linear trends, the few exceptions occurring in Asian/Pacific Islanders. The greatest rates of change occurred in dimensions related to soft tissues rather than skeletal dimensions. This pattern is consistent with recent American cultural emphasis on health and physical fitness. The causes of the observed trends, insofar as they have been identified, are related to cultural processes. This suggests that biological forces play a diminished role in shaping the patterns of secular change. Therefore, it may be more appropriate to study secular change in groups that are culturally, rather than biologically, defined.

Assessment of male anthropometric trends and the effects on simulated heat stress responses

“…Temporal trends in anthropometrics, body compositions, and Wtness levels in the military are commonly examined to assess health and safety (Greiner and Gordon 1992;Knapik et al 2006). To our knowledge, assessing the impact of changes in anthropometrics and body composition on simulated physiological responses to exercise and heat stress is rarely reported because such trends are diYcult to measure.…”

Secular changes in body dimensions of Royal Australian Air Force aircrew (1971–2005)

“…Secular changes in the body size of military populations are also well documented (Greiner and Gordon 1992, Sharp et al 2002, Knapik et al 2006, Yokota et al 2007). Most of the available secular data have been reported on US military personnel.…”

“…Secular data for other body dimensions (e.g. girths, lengths, breadths and segmental heights) are few (Greiner and Gordon 1992).…”

Tendência secular em estatura: uma revisão da literatura

“…As influências ambientais caracterizam-se, por exemplo, por um aumento na disponibilidade de alimentos, melhorias das condições sanitá-rias e cuidados em saúde, entre outros (Van Wieringen, 1986;Greiner & Gordon, 1992).…”