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Secular changes are different in distinct subgroups of the growing population
1Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Department of Human Biology, University of Potsdam, Germany. greil@uni-potsdam.de
Summary
German reunification led to significant changes in child growth. Between 1989 and 1999, East German youth became taller, with notable sex-specific shifts in weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) for the most corpulent. Subcutaneous fat also changed differently by age and sex.
Area of Science:
- Human Biology
- Pediatrics
- Anthropometry
Background:
- German reunification in 1990 altered living conditions in East Germany, prompting changes in child growth and development.
- Secular trends in anthropometric measurements are sensitive indicators of environmental and lifestyle shifts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze secular changes in height, weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), and subcutaneous fat thickness in East German children and adolescents.
- To compare anthropometric data from 1989 and 1999 to identify trends in growth and body composition.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study comparing two samples of German children and adolescents (aged 6-18) from 1989 and 1999.
- Analysis of anthropometric data including height, weight, BMI, and subcutaneous fat layer thickness.
- Comparison of medians and 10% extreme categories (smallest/leanest and tallest/most corpulent) within yearly age groups.
Main Results:
- A general trend towards taller stature was observed in both smaller and taller categories between 1989 and 1999.
- Secular changes in body composition (weight, BMI, fat) were sex-specific and differed from height trends.
- Upper BMI and fat categories showed increases in pre-adolescent children but decreases in adolescent girls and minimal change in adolescent boys.
Conclusions:
- Post-reunification environmental changes significantly impacted the growth patterns of East German youth.
- Body composition trends, particularly in the upper percentiles, demonstrate complex age- and sex-specific adaptations.
- Further research is needed to understand the long-term health implications of these observed secular changes.