Growth studies in Jena, Germany: Changes in sitting height, biacromial and bicristal breadth in the past decenniums

Changes in sitting height, biacromial and bicristal breadths, and the acromio-cristal index in school children from Jena between 7 and 14 years of age are described. Additionally, a secular comparison of these measurements and the index was done, based on the long series of surveys available for schoolchildren in Jena. During childhood, sex differences in the dimensions and the index are usually slight, but with the onset of the adolescent spurt sex differences are clear. Females become relatively broader-hipped and shorter-legged than males, with the differences especially marked in the acromio-cristal index. Biacromial and bicristal breadths and sitting height increased, on average, between the first investigation in 1975 and the survey in 1995. In contrast, the acromio-cristal index remained almost constant in boys and girls over the observed time, with few exceptions. When related to stature, both breadth measurements of the trunk have increased, whereas the ratio of sitting height to stature remained constant in most age groups between 1975 and 1995. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 12:646-654, 2000. Copyright 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.