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Developmental variation in ecogeographic body proportions
Libby W Cowgill1, Courtney D Eleazer, Benjamin M Auerbach
1Department of Anthropology, University of Missouri, Columbia, 65201, USA. cowgilll@missouri.edu
American Journal of Physical Anthropology
|May 25, 2012
Summary
Climate significantly impacts children's body shape, influencing stature and weight, similar to adults. Limb proportions show consistent latitudinal correlations throughout growth, highlighting ecogeographic adaptations in developing humans.
Area of Science:
- Human Biology
- Anthropology
- Ecology
Background:
- Ecogeographic variation in adult human body proportions is well-studied.
- Less research exists on how climate influences human body shape during development.
- Thermoregulation and growth dynamics differ in immature individuals, making this period crucial for study.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of ecogeographic factors on human body shape during growth.
- To compare climate-body form relationships in immature versus adult humans.
- To determine how factors like climate and altitude affect children's body proportions.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of anthropometric data from children (Eveleth and Tanner, 1976).
- Measurement of limb proportions in eight skeletal samples.
- Correlation analysis between climatic data and body measurements.
Main Results:
- Strong correlations found between climate and immature stature, weight, BMI, and bi-iliac breadth, comparable to adults.
- Altitude significantly affects immature body form, with higher altitudes linked to smaller stature and weight.
- Brachial and crural indices show consistent correlations with latitude across growth stages.
Conclusions:
- Immature body form, particularly bi-iliac breadth and limb indices, is strongly influenced by ecogeographic principles.
- Other aspects of immature body proportions are affected by intrinsic factors like nutrition and growth constraints.
- Climate's impact on body shape is evident even during human development.
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