[The secular trend in growth]

The secular changes in growth of the Spanish male population throughout the current century are presented. Data are adult mean height: 163.4 cm in 1910 and 174.5 cm in 1995. The increase was produced after 1950 and specially after 1965. From this last date, the increase by decade was between 2 and 2.9 cm. Lately the increase is gone on but more slowly. It was possible establish a direct relationship between height and culture and income of population. Maturation of female was studied using the menarcheal age. In 1998 it was 12.5 years. The menarcheal ag is now 0.3 years before than 15 years ago.