Subischial Leg Length Research Articles

Association of early menarche with elevated BMI, lower body height and relative leg length among 14- to 16-year-old post-menarcheal girls from a Maya community in Yucatan, Mexico

Human body segments have different timing and tempo of growth. Early menarche (EM) as an indicator of early reproductive maturity results in a shortened height and leg length. Relatively larger trunk may increase risk for more body fat deposit and higher body mass index (BMI) due to the allometry of total body fat with body proportions. The objective of the study was to assess the association of EM with BMI, absolute body size [height, sitting height (SH), subischial leg length (SLL)] and relative body dimensions [sitting height to subischial leg length ratio (SHSLLR), relative subischial leg length (RSLL)] among 14- to 16-year-old post-menarcheal girls from a rural Maya community in Quintana Roo, Yucatan, Mexico. In a cross-sectional study, post-menarcheal girls (n=51) aged 14 to 16 years had EM (n=22) (<12 years of age) and not early menarche (NEM, n=29). Anthropometric measurements of height, weight, and SH were recorded. Derived variables were BMI, height and BMI-for-age z-scores, SLL, SHSLLR, and RSLL. Mean value of age at menarche (AM) was 13 years (EM 11 years, NEM 14 years). Mean values of height (EM 159 cm, NEM 164 cm), BMI (EM 20 kg/m2, NEM 19 kg/m2), sitting height (EM 81 cm, NEM 78 cm), SLL (EM 79 cm, NEM 85 cm), SHSLLR (EM 102.93%, NEM 92.03%), and RSLL (EM 49%, NEM 52%) were different (p<0.05) in the two groups. BMI showed significant negative correlation with AM (Pearson’s r=-0.29, p<0.04). Linear regression models adjusted for age showed that EM had different interrelationships (p<0.05) with body dimensions: positive with BMI, SH, SHSLLR, and negative with height, SLL, and RSLL. Earlier AM was associated with higher BMI, SH, SHSLLR and lower SLL, RSLL, explaining lower body height and leg length among the participant EM girls. In the light of life history theory, EM results in a growth trade-off, short stature and larger trunk relative to leg length that might enhance risk for body fat gain.

Skeletal disproportion in girls with Turner syndrome and longitudinal change with growth‐promoting therapy

Short stature in Turner syndrome (TS) may be accompanied by skeletal disproportion. This retrospective study investigates growth and disproportion from early childhood to adult height. Data were collected from 59 girls prior to growth hormone (rhGH) treatment and in 30 girls followed up longitudinally. Standard deviation scores (SDS) for height (Ht), sitting height (SH) and sub-ischial leg length (LL) were compared and a disproportion score (SH SDS - LL SDS) calculated. In 59 girls, mean (SD) age 6.6 (2.1) years prior to rhGH treatment, LL SDS of -3.4 (1.1) was significantly lower than SH SDS of -1.2 (0.8) [p<.001]. In girls with Ht SDS < -2.0, disproportion score was > +2.0 in 27 (63%), cf eight (50%) with Ht SDS ≥ -2.0. For the longitudinal analysis, skeletal disproportion prior to rhGH was+2.4 (1.1) and+1.7 (1.0) on rhGH but prior to introduction of oestrogen [p<.001]. Disproportion at adult height was+1.1 (0.8), which was less marked than at the earlier time points [p<.001 for both comparisons]. Change in disproportion SDS over the first two years of rhGH predicted overall change in disproportion from baseline to adult height [R2 51.7%, p<.001]. TS is associated with skeletal disproportion, which is more severe in the shortest girls and present in only half of those with milder degrees of short stature. Growth-promoting therapy may improve disproportion during both the childhood and pubertal phases of growth. Change in disproportion status two years after starting rhGH helps predict disproportion at adult height.

Age Variations and Sexual Dimorphism in Linear Body Segments among Children Aged 2-6-Years of Bengalee Ethnicity from Arambagh, West Bengal, India

Background Sitting height (SH), sub ischial leg length (SILL) and the sitting height/leg length ratio (SH/SILL) are useful tools for assessing human body proportions. They are often used to detect the presence of abnormal growth, especially in school-aged children. Materials and Methods Our cross-sectional study was conducted among 1012 preschool children aged 2 to 6-years from Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme centers at Bali Gram Panchayat, Arambagh, Hooghly District, West Bengal, India. Anthropometric measurements like height, weight, SH were measured following standard protocol. Results There was no age combined significant sex difference in any variable. However, age specific sex differences were there in few age groups. Highly significant (p&lt;0.001) age variations existed in all variables. The body mass index (BMI) was significantly (p&lt;0.01) negatively correlated with SILL (r=-0.443), SILLP (r=-0.302) and UTL (r=-0.346) in both sexes. It was significantly (p&lt;0.01) positively associated with UTLP (r=0.302). Moreover, SILL was significantly positively correlated with UTL in both sexes (boys, r=0.821 and girls, r=0.871; p&lt;0.01), whereas it was significantly negatively associated with UTLP (boys, r=-0.590 and girls, r=-0.552; p&lt;0.01) in the participants. Conclusion Our results suggest that, in both sexes, there were significant age differences in SILL, SILLP, upper trunk length (UTL) and unified technology learning platform (UTLP). The BMI had significant associations with these variables in both sexes. Moreover, SILL had significant correlation with UTL and UTLP among the participants.

Inter-relationships between percentage body fat, relative subischial leg length and body mass index among adolescents and adults from the Limbu community of Darjeeling, West Bengal.

Leg length in humans is considered to be an indicator of the long-term impact of quality of childhood living conditions and nutritional status. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the magnitude of association of percentage body fat (PBF) with relative subischial leg length (RSLL), adjusting for age, sex and body mass index (BMI), among adolescents and adults in a population of poor socioeconomic background in India. Data were taken from a cross-sectional study conducted in 2010-2014 among the Limbu community of Darjeeling, West Bengal - an indigenous community with poor socioeconomic background, low literacy rate, low income and inadequate living conditions. The study villages were located in the Himalayan and sub-Himalayan regions of Darjeeling. The present study sample comprised 97 adolescents aged 16-19 years (47 boys, 50 girls) and 260 adults aged 20-39 years (135 men, 125 women). Anthropometric measurements of stature/height (cm), weight (kg), sitting height (cm) and skinfold thicknesses (biceps, triceps, subscapular, suprailiac) (mm) were recorded. Derived variables were BMI (kg/m2), subischial leg length (SLL) (cm), RSLL (%), sum of four skinfolds (mm) and PBF (%). Significant sex differences at p<0.05 were observed for all anthropometric characteristics, except for body weight among adolescents and RSLL, subscapular and sum of four skinfolds in adults. The linear regression models adjusting for age and sex showed that RSLL had a negative relationship with PBF (p<0.05) among adolescents and adults. Higher body fat, independent of BMI, was correlated with lower RSLL among both adolescents and adults from the Limbu community, indicating a possible association with poor quality living conditions in childhood. However, this may also have been due to the allometry of total body fat with body proportions - a relatively larger trunk results in more body fat.

Interrelationship between Subischial Leg Length and Height in 4 and 5-Year-Old Limbu Children from Darjeeling, West Bengal

Interrelationship between Subischial Leg Length and Height in 4 and 5-Year-Old Limbu Children from Darjeeling, West Bengal

Long-term changes in body proportions since 1952 to 2011 in children and adolescents from Kolkata (India).

The aim of this study was to investigate the intergenerational changes of the selected body proportions of children and adolescents from Kolkata (India). The analysis was based on anthropometric measurements of 7488 Bengali children (4222 boys and 3266 girls), aged 7-19, from the middle-class families. The cohorts from 1952-66 and 1999-2011, as well as series of boys from 1982-83, were compared in terms of body height, subischial leg length, biacromial width, biiliac width, reciprocal ponderal index (RPI), skelic index, pelvi-acromial index, shoulder-height ratio, pelvis-height ratio. The significance of the differences was determined by two-way ANOVA. All features, in both sexes, significantly differed between the 1952-66 and 1999-2011 cohorts. A general positive secular trend was observed for subischial leg length, biacromial width, and biiliac width and skelic index. Negative overall intergenerational changes were noted in the pelvi-acromial index, biacromial and biiliac width to body height ratio and RPI. In boys, the 1982-83 and 1999-2011 cohorts differed significantly only in the RPI. Between the 1952-66 and 1982-83 series the differences in subischial leg length, biacromial width, biiliac width (in older boys) and pelvi-acromial index (some age groups) were significant. Observed diversification of body proportions most likely results from the improvement of developmental conditions related to the socio-economic progress of India. However, increasing stoutness, visible in the RPI values, especially associated with its fatness, raises the risk of many health problems and diseases, even at the young age.

A novel inverse association between cord 25-hydroxyvitamin D and leg length in boys up to three years. An Odense Child Cohort study.

Background and aimLong standing vitamin D deficiency in children causes rickets with growth impairment. We investigated whether sub-ischial leg length (SLL) is shorter, and cephalo-caudal length:length (CCL:L) ratio and sitting height:height (SH:H) ratio larger, with lower cord s-25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) in the population-based prospective Odense Child Cohort, Denmark.MethodsWe included healthy singletons born to term with available measures of cord 25OHD and anthropometrics up to three years’ age. Linear regression was stratified by sex a priori and adjusted for maternal ethnicity, pre-pregnancy body mass index and smoking during pregnancy, season of blood sampling and child age.ResultsMedian (IQR) cord 25OHD was 48.0 (34.0–62.4) nmol/L. At mean age 19.1 months, n = 504, mean (SD) SLL was 31.7 (1.7) cm; CCL:L-ratio 0.62 (0.01). At 36.3 months, n = 956, mean SLL was 42.9 (2.0) cm; SH:H-ratio 0.56 (0.01). No participants had rickets. In adjusted analyses, 19-months-old boys had 0.1 cm shorter SLL (p = 0.009) and 0.1% higher CCL:L-ratio (p = 0.04) with every 10 nmol/L increase in cord 25OHD. Similar findings were seen for late pregnancy 25OHD. In the highest cord 25OHD quartile (>60.7 nmol/L), SLL was 0.8 cm shorter (95% C.I.: 1.36;-0.29, linear trend, p = 0.004), and CCL:L-ratio 0.8% higher (95% C.I. 8.0x10-05;0.01, linear trend, p = 0.01), compared to lowest quartile (<30.7 nmol/L). Similar associations with cord 25OHD were observed in 3-year-old boys. No consistent associations between 25OHD and anthropometrics were seen in girls at either age.ConclusionNo leg shortening was found with decreasing cord s-25OHD in a healthy population of infants. A small, yet significant inverse association between cord 25OHD and SLL in boys 1½-3 years warrants further investigations.

Growth Hormone Therapy in Children with Kabuki Syndrome: 1-year Treatment Results

Background/Aims: Kabuki syndrome (KS) is a rare genetic malformation syndrome, resulting in characteristic features such as short stature. We investigate whether growth hormone (GH) treatment increases linear height and influences body proportions in KS children. Methods: In this prospective study, 18 genetically confirmed prepubertal KS children (9 females and 9 males) aged from 3.8 to 10.1 years (mean 6.8 ± 2.1 years) were treated with recombinant human GH (rhGH) for 1 year. Calculations for height, height velocity, BMI, sitting height, and subischial leg length were made. Bone age, insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I), and IGF binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) were also measured. Results: This study showed an increase in height standard deviation score (SDS) for the whole group from –2.40 to –1.69 (p < 0.05) after 1 year of rhGH treatment. The change in height SDS within 1 year was >0.7 SDS for 10 subjects and >0.5 SDS for 3 subjects. The mean IGF-I SDS at the start of the study was –0.70 (±1.07), which increased after 12 months to 1.41 (±0.91) (p < 0.05). KS children who received rhGH at a younger age displayed significantly greater increases in height than those who started when they were older. The same was true for both gene mutation KMT2D versus KDM6A and for GH deficiency versus non-GH deficiency KS children (p < 0.05). Throughout the course of rhGH treatment, the subjects’ body proportions remained normal. Conclusions: All participants experienced catch-up growth during the year of rhGH treatment, but without an influence on body proportions.

Validation of the multiplier method for leg-length predictions on a large European cohort and an assessment of the effect of physiological age on predictions.

PurposeThe Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) prospective cohort was used to determine the accuracy of the Paley multiplier method for predicting leg length. Using menarche as a proxy, physiological age was then used to increase the accuracy of the multiplier.MethodsChronological age was corrected in female patients over the age of eight years with documented date of first menses. Final sub-ischial leg length and predicted final leg length were predicted for all data points.ResultsGood correlation was demonstrated between the Paley and ALSPAC data. The average error in prediction depended on the time of assessment, tending to improve as the child got older. It varied from 2.2 cm at the age of seven years to 1.8 cm at the age of 14 years. When chronological age was corrected, the accuracy of multiplier increased. Age correction of 50% improved multiplier predictions by up to 28%.ConclusionThere appears to have been no significant change in growth trajectories of the two populations who were chronologically separated by 40 years. While the Paley data were based on extracting trends from averaged data, the ALSPAC dataset provides descriptive statistics from which it is possible to compare populations and assess the accuracy of the multiplier method. The data suggest that the accuracy improves as the patient gets close to the average skeletal maturity but that results need to be interpreted in conjunction with a radiological assessment of the growth plates. The magnitude of the errors in prediction suggest that when using the multiplier, the clinician must remain vigilant and prepared to perform a contralateral epiphyseodisis if the prediction proves to be wrong. The data suggest a relationship between the multiplier and menarche. There appears to be a factorisation and when accounting for physiological age, one needs to correct by 50% of the difference between chronological and physiological age.

Screening of SHOX gene sequence variants in Saudi Arabian children with idiopathic short stature.

PurposeShort stature affects approximately 2%–3% of children, representing one of the most frequent disorders for which clinical attention is sought during childhood. Despite assumed genetic heterogeneity, mutations or deletions in the short stature homeobox-containing gene (SHOX) are frequently detected in subjects with short stature. Idiopathic short stature (ISS) refers to patients with short stature for various unknown reasons. The goal of this study was to screen all the exons of SHOX to identify related mutations.MethodsWe screened all the exons of SHOX for mutations analysis in 105 ISS children patients (57 girls and 48 boys) living in Taif governorate, KSA using a direct DNA sequencing method. Height, arm span, and sitting height were recorded, and subischial leg length was calculated.ResultsA total of 30 of 105 ISS patients (28%) contained six polymorphic variants in exons 1, 2, 4, and 6. One mutation was found in the DNA domain binding region of exon 4. Three of these polymorphic variants were novel, while the others were reported previously. There were no significant differences in anthropometric measures in ISS patients with and without identifiable polymorphic variants in SHOX.ConclusionIn Saudi Arabia ISS patients, rather than SHOX, it is possible that new genes are involved in longitudinal growth. Additional molecular analysis is required to diagnose and understand the etiology of this disease.

Long-term changes in body proportions since 1983 to 2010 in children and adolescents from Kraków (Poland).

The aim of the study was to assess changes in body proportions and the rate of growth in boys and girls from the population of Kraków (Poland) in the years 1983-2010. The children and adolescents analyzed in this study were included in three cross-sectional surveys conducted in Kraków in 1983, 2000 and 2010. The sample sizes were the following: 3,214 boys and 3,250 girls in 1983, 2,381 boys and 2,096 girls in 2000, 1,889 boys and 1,989 girls in 2010. The comparison of selected features and indices were made: subischial leg length, biacromial width, biiliac width, reciprocal ponderal index, skelic index, pelvi-acromial index, shoulder-height ratio, pelvis-height ratio. To analyze the rate of growth the modeling functions of Preece-Baines (PB1) were used. Over the analyzed period, the children and adolescents from Kraków showed a positive secular trend for all the analyzed traits, especially consistent in the width of the pelvis and shoulders. The acceleration of development was reflected in the earlier pubertal spurt in the studied lengths and widths. The changes in body proportions showed a tendency to more slender body proportions in children between 3 and 8 years of age in girls and after puberty, and the relative shortening of the lower limbs. In the group of boys, there was a distinct widening of hips and pelvis, more pronounced than in height. In girls, similar changes were noted only until the period of puberty, and throughout the entire duration of ontogeny for the shoulders-height ratio.

Interrelationships between Height and Selected Linear Body Dimensions and Estimation of Sex in Nepali-Speaking Adults from Naxalbari, Darjeeling

Background: Several reports are available on human body dimensions (BD), their interrelationships with height, sex difference and sex estimation from different populations. Objectives: To understand interrelationships between linear BD and height in adults and estimation of sex. Methods: A sample of 20-39 years old Nepali-speaking 268 adults (158 men, 110 women) was selected from Naxalbari in Darjeeling, West Bengal, India. Anthropometric measurements included height, sitting height (SH), upper arm length (UAL), forearm length (FAL), combined length of forearm and hand (CLFH), total arm lengths (TAL) (left side), hands and feet (bilateral length and breadth). Sub-ischial leg length (SLL) and indices (hands and feet), relative proportion, multiplication factors (MF) of linear BD for height were calculated. Sectioning point (SP) values [(mean value in men + mean value in women)/2] were calculated for anthropometric variables to estimate sex. Results: The SH and SLL each shared almost 50% of height. Relative proportions of BD to height were: TAL (men 45.39%, women 46.36%), CLFH (men 25.88%, women 26.58%), UAL (men 19.48%, women 19.82%) and FAL (men 14.83%, women 15.47%). Foot length (FL) and hand length (HL) was approximately 15% and 11% of height in men and women respectively. Foot breadth (FB) and hand breadth (HB) were approximately 6% and 5% of height respectively. The approximate values of MF of BD for height were calculated for TAL (2), CLFH (4), UAL (5), FAL and foot length (7), HL (9), FB (17), and HB (20). Based on SP value, sex estimation was done accurately (%) for SH (82.10%), FL (bilateral 81.72%), HL and FB (left 79.10%), FB (right 77.99%), HB (right 77.61%), TAL, HL (right) and HB (left) (75.37%), SLL (74.25%), CLFH (70.15%), UAL (66.67%) and FAL (62.70%). Conclusion: The MF and SP values were effective in understanding relative proportions of BD to height and sex estimation respectively.

Cormic index profile of children with sickle cell anaemia in lagos, Nigeria.

Background. Sickle cell disorders are known to have a negative effect on linear growth. This could potentially affect proportional growth and, hence, Cormic Index. Objective. To determine the Cormic Index in the sickle cell anaemia population in Lagos. Methodology. A consecutive sample of 100 children with haemoglobin genotype SS, aged eight months to 15 years, and 100 age and sex matched controls (haemoglobin genotype AA) was studied. Sitting height (upper segment) and full length or height were measured. Sitting height was then expressed as a percentage of full length/height (Cormic Index). Results. The mean Cormic Index decreased with age among primary subjects (SS) and AA controls. The overall mean Cormic Index among primary subjects was comparable to that of controls (55.0 ± 4.6% versus 54.5 ± 5.2%; 54.8 ± 4.5% versus 53.6 ± 4.9%) in boys and girls, respectively. In comparison with AA controls, female children with sickle cell anaemia who were older than 10 years had a significantly lower mean Cormic Index. Conclusion. There was a significant negative relationship between Cormic Index and height in subjects and controls irrespective of gender. Similarly, a significant negative correlation existed between age, sitting height, subischial leg length, weight, and Cormic Index in both subjects and controls.

Resistance to thyroid hormone.

Resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH) or thyroid hormone action defect (THAD) is the most frequent form of syndromes of reduced sensitivity to thyroid hormone. It is characterized by variable tissue hyposensitivity to thyroid hormone. RTHβ (formerly only RTH) is caused by mutations in the thyroid hormone receptor β gene (THRB). The clinical phenotype reflects the dysbalance between resistance of tissues predominantly expressing the thyroid hormone receptor β-isoforms 1 and 2 and the overstimulation of tissues mainly expressing the thyroid hormone receptor α-isoform to thyroid hormones. The hallmark of RTHβ is goiter, sinus tachycardia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the context of increased levels of triiodothyronine/free thyroxine and nonsuppressed thyroid-stimulating hormone. Only recently have mutations in the thyroid hormone receptor α gene (THRA) been identified causing a new form of RTH, RTHα. The few patients described so far suffered from mental retardation of variable degree, short stature with decreased subischial leg length, chronic constipation and bradycardia. This review provides an overview of clinical, biochemical and genetic aspects of RTHα and RTHβ relevant for diagnosis, treatment and counseling of affected patients and families.

Austrian height and body proportion references for children aged 4 to under 19 years

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated differences between national and the WHO reference curves in children older than 5 years. Moreover, reference curves for body proportions (sitting height, subischial leg length and their ratio) based on state-of-the-art statistics are not available.Aim: To develop reference curves for height and body proportions for use in Austria and compare the curves with WHO reference curves. To estimate and statistically investigate extreme percentiles.Subjects and methods: A sample of ∼14 500 children between 4–19 years of age was drawn via schooling institutions, stratified by provinces according to age- and sex-specific population proportions. GAMLSS models were used for a flexible estimation of percentile curves.Results and conclusions: After the age of 5 years national reference curves are more suitable than the WHO reference curves for clinical use in Austria. These height curves are very similar to the German reference curves published recently. Therefore, these reference curves for criteria of body proportions are recommended for use in other populations. Further validation studies are needed to establish whether the recently recommended −2.5 and −3.0 SD for height are a sensitive and specific cut-off in the diagnostic work-up for children with a suspected growth disorder using this new Austrian height chart.

Secular Changes in BMI and Obesity Risk in Japanese Children: Considerations from a Morphologic Perspective

The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity is a global health issue. Past studies in Japan have reported an increase in both body mass index (BMI) and risk of obesity among children and adolescents. However, changes in body size and proportion in this population over time have also influenced BMI. To date, no study of secular changes in childhood obesity has considered the impact of changes in morphological factors. The current study explored the secular changes in BMI and childhood obesity risk among Japanese children from 1950 to 2000 with consideration of changes in body size and the proportions using The Statistical Report of the School Health Survey (SHS). The age of peak velocity (PV) occurred approximately two years earlier in both genders across this period. While the increments in height, sitting height and sub-ischial leg length relative to height levelled off by 1980, weight gain continued in boys. Between 1980 and 2000, the rate of the upper body weight gain in boys and girls were 0.7-1.3 kg/decade and 0.2-1.0 kg/decade, respectively. After considering body proportions, increments in body weight were small. It could be suggested that the increments in weight and BMI across the 50-year period may be due to a combination of changes including the tempo of growth and body size due to lifestyle factors.

The growth of different body length dimensions is not predictive for the peak growth velocity of sitting height in the individual child

The aim of this study was to determine whether the differences in timing of the peak growth velocity (PGV) between sitting height, total body height, subischial leg length, and foot length can be used to predict whether the individual patient with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is before or past his or her PGV of sitting height. Furthermore, ratios of growth of different body parts were considered in order to determine their value in prediction of the PGV of sitting height in the individual patient. Ages of the PGV were determined for sitting height (n = 360), total body height (n = 432), subischial leg length (n = 357), and foot length (n = 263), and compared for the whole group and for the individual child in particular. Furthermore, the ages of the highest and lowest ratios between the body length dimensions were determined and compared to the age of the PGV of sitting height. The mean ages of the highest and lowest ratios were significantly different from the mean age of the PGV of sitting height in 3 out of 12 ratios in girls and 8 out of 12 ratios in boys. The variation over children was large and the ratios were too small, leading to a too large influence of measurement errors. The mean ages of the PGV all differed significantly from the mean age of the PGV of sitting height. However, the variation over individual children of the age differences in PGV between body dimensions was large, and the differences in timing of the PGV were not useful to predict whether the individual child is before or past his or her PGV of sitting height.

Intergenerational gains in relative knee height as compared to gains in relative leg length within Taiwanese families

Evidence indicates that variation in relative leg length (RLL) is a sensitive indicator of early childhood circumstances, but research presents conflicting evidence of how lower leg growth contributes to variability. This study investigates the extent of intergenerational changes in subischial leg length and knee height relative to stature among father-son, mother-daughter, and midparent-offspring pairs. These changes and differences in the extent of mean change in the two indices within like-sex parent-offspring pairs were assessed using repeated measures ANOVA. Results indicate that within all categories, mean generational differences in both indices were substantial [Delta RLL z: 0.64-0.73; Delta relative knee height (RKH) z: 0.46-0.64] and statistically significant (P < or = 0.010). Mean increases in RLL and RKH across parent-offspring categories were consistently greater in Taipei than Auckland, though only the midparent-offspring generation by location contrast for RLL was statistically significant (P = 0.037). Father-son and mother-daughter average differences were virtually identical for RLL (0.73 z vs. 0.72 z). When differences within pairs in the extent of change in RLL and RKH were assessed directly, mother-daughter mean differences approached significance at an alpha level of 0.05 (Delta = 0.26 z; F = 3.42, df = 1, 42, P = 0.071). Father-son differences were smaller (Delta = 0.09 z) and statistically insignificant suggesting very similar amounts of change in the two indices.

Focused life history data and linear enamel hypoplasia to help explain intergenerational variation in relative leg length within Taiwanese families

This study first examines the hypothesis that significant intergeneration increases in stature within 85 Taiwanese families in two study locations were primarily the result of increases in subischial leg length. It then evaluates a second hypothesis that independent assessments of the extent of intergenerational change in childhood environments within these families helped account for parent-offspring differences in relative leg length. Childhood environments were assessed using two criteria: developmental environment scores derived from life history data and evidence of linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH). Relative leg length was represented in two ways, as either the difference between internally estimated sex-specific z-scores of sitting height and subischial leg length (z(D) = z(SH) - z(LL)) or as relative sitting height (RSH; sitting height/height x 100). Paired Student t tests indicated intergenerational increases in relative leg length were significantly greater than zero in both study locations (P < or = 0.012). The second hypothesis, tested using a hierarchical model with maximum likelihood estimation that allowed for nesting of more than one offspring per family, received support as midparent-offspring differences in composite scores were significantly positively associated with midparent-offspring differences in relative leg length. This was true alone (P = 0.018), and when significant associations with LEH prevalence among mothers and offspring were statistically controlled for (P = 0.010). Evidence also indicated that while the large majority of offspring were taller than their midparental average height (84.3%; 91/108), offspring who were taller were also more likely to have relatively longer legs than by chance alone (Fishers exact, P = 0.027).

Age trends in anthropometric characteristics among 6-9 years old Bengalee Hindu school girls of Kolkata, India

A cross-sectional study of 431 6-9 years old urban Bengalee Hindu schoolgirls of Kolkata, India, was undertaken to study age trends in anthropometric characteristics including regional and subcutaneous adiposity. The anthropometric variables measured included height, weight, sitting height (SH), waist (WC), hip (HPC), thigh (TC), mid-upper arm (MUAC) and medial calf (MC) circumferences as well as triceps (TSF), biceps (BSF), subscapular SUBSF), suprailliac (SUPSF) and medial calf (MCASF) skinfolds. The results revealed, that there was a significant increasing age trend for all the anthropometric variables including the two derived variables: body mass index (BMI) and subischial leg length (SLL). For all variables, the lowest and the highest means were observed at the age of 6 and 9 years, respectively. The maximum increase in weight, BMI, all linear measurements, WC and HPC were observed during the period 6-7 years of age. In general, all skinfolds recorded similar yearly increments. More importantly, this study clearly indicated that among Bengalee girls aged 6-9 years, the highest amount of linear growth (height, SH and SLL) was observed at 6 years of age. The overall adiposity (BMI) also recorded the maximum increment during this period. The unique data presented here can be used as reference values for urban Bengalee Hindu girls aged 6-9 years.