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.
Highlights
In the effort to invent and improve the technologies in various industrial fields, great emphasis is placed on the optimal use of specific technologies and equipment [1,2]
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
Due to an insufficient level of anthropometric research in Slovakia, furniture manufacturers are forced to rely on rather obsolete data dating back to 1981, the positive secular trend can be expected [21]. In relation to this problem, the main objective of the present study is to evaluate the changes in the two basic anthropometric dimensions and body mass indices of the adult population in Slovakia in recent years and to provide updated quantified information on the secular growth trend
Summary
In the effort to invent and improve the technologies in various industrial fields, great emphasis is placed on the optimal use of specific technologies and equipment [1,2]. The secular trend is defined as increasing the final state of body dimensions of successive generations as compared to previous generations. This trend is interesting for a number of reasons [18,19,20]: (i) it is an indication of improving public health of the population; (ii) it reflects the relationship between economic growth and the standard of living; (iii) it illustrates aspects of the physiology of intergenerational relationships in growth and size
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