Age-related anthropometric changes in physical development among aboriginal schoolchildren in Russia’s North-East

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Schoolchildren from an educational institution of Severo-Evensk District Magadan Region, participated in an anthropometric survey. AIM: To assess anthropometric characteristics of indigenous schoolchildren in the Magadan Region across different age-groups. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two hundred and eight boys and one hundred and ninety girls from the Evens, Koryaks and Itelmen ethnic groups participated in the 2021–2023 Anthropometric Survey. They accounted for 67.2% of all schoolchildren surveyed. Body height (BH), body mass (BM), chest circumference (CC), sitting height (HSit), right- and left-hand grip strength were measured. We also calculated annual increase in weight and height, as well as proportionality of physical development of the children. RESULTS: A natural increase in the absolute body indicators of BH, BM, HSit, CC, and right and left hand strength have been observed parallel to increase in age from 8 to 17 years. The rate of annual growth indicated different timing of the periods of accelerated increase in the anthropometric characteristics. Girls exhibited a CC maximum increase at 10–11 years old with simultaneous increase in BH, BM, HSit, and hand grip strength at 11–12 years old. During the same age-periods, boys showed a pronounced BH growth with BM and CC increase at 12–13 years of age. After a slight attenuation in the growth rate, we observed a substantial increase in BH at the age of 14–15, associated with gender-related aspects in older children groups. Sex-related characteristics of BH increase were primarily associated with differences in the leg growth rates during the puberty, and tend to be greater in boys. Most of the studied boys had an asthenic somatotype. At the same time, most girls had a proportional body type with high percentage of those with relatively short legs. CONCLUSION: We observed that girls were ahead of boys in their physical development. Boys demonstrated a continuous development in their main anthropometric characteristics with more pronounced dynamics in adolescence. Our findings suggest that indigenous schoolgirls have better physical development and adaptive adjustments compared to boys.