Region-related patterns of the main physical development indicators observed in northerners in the ontogenetic aspect

Abstract

Indicators of physical development appear to be environmentally sensitive and thus we can consider them the main characteristics of the population health.The aim. To assess the line of physical development main variables in the ontogenetic aspect (data from the North born male subjects aged from 8 to 77).Material and methods. Three thousand seven hundred and ninety-four male Caucasians from 17 age groups were examined to analyse their physical development.Results. The study showed longer body length variables as the region-related somatometric picture which is characteristic of male Caucasian northerners in comparison with those from other regions of the Russian Federation, as well as from other countries. Besides, they exhibited significantly lower body mass index and reported to have had lower body weight since the age of 17. We can see the modern northerners’ somatotype being influenced by regional extremes. That also includes the end of the body growth processes by the start of ontogenesis in the youth. The line pattern of annual growth observed in the body length and weight variables indicates a combined pronounced dynamics in the 11 to 16 age period. By the age of 60–77 years subjects tend to decrease in the body length with a significant increase in the body weight and body mass index by the age of 31–36.Conclusion. The study suggests that identifying risks for the development of noninfectious and cardiovascular diseases caused by accelerated BMI in older populations requires monitoring of the North inhabitants’ main physical development indicators as well as the body annual growth variables.