Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 25, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

26.7K

Evidence of inbreeding depression on height, weight, and body mass index: a population-based child cohort study

Mohd Fareed1, Mohammad Afzal

  • 1Human Genetics and Toxicology Laboratory, Section of Genetics, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, Uttar Pradesh, India.

American Journal of Human Biology : the Official Journal of the Human Biology Council
|August 19, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Inbreeding significantly reduces height, weight, and BMI in children, with effects worsening as inbreeding increases. This inbreeding depression impacts child health outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Human Genetics
  • Pediatric Health
  • Population Studies

Background:

  • Inbreeding, the mating of related individuals, can have detrimental effects on offspring.
  • Understanding the impact of inbreeding on child development is crucial for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of inbreeding on physical growth parameters in children.
  • To compare anthropometric measurements (height, weight, BMI) between inbred and non-inbred children.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study involving 1,270 children (5-15 years) from inbred and non-inbred families in North India.
  • Measurement of height and weight using standard methods; BMI calculated using WHO standards.
  • Assessment of inbreeding status using family pedigrees and coefficient of inbreeding (F).

Main Results:

  • Inbred children exhibited significantly lower mean height, weight, and BMI compared to non-inbred children (P < 0.0001).
  • A dose-dependent relationship was observed: increased inbreeding coefficient correlated with greater reductions in height, weight, and BMI (P < 0.05).
  • Underweight prevalence was substantially higher in inbred children (47.31%) versus non-inbred children (13.41%).

Conclusions:

  • Inbreeding depression significantly affects key child health indicators: height, weight, and BMI.
  • These findings underscore the importance of considering inbreeding in pediatric health assessments and interventions.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Protocol for Assessing the Relative Effects of Environment and Genetics on Antler and Body Growth for a Long-lived Cervid09:09

Protocol for Assessing the Relative Effects of Environment and Genetics on Antler and Body Growth for a Long-lived Cervid

Published on: August 8, 2017

6.8K
Author Spotlight: Exploring Microglial Interactions with Stress-Response Circuitry Using the Limited Bedding and Nesting Model04:20

Author Spotlight: Exploring Microglial Interactions with Stress-Response Circuitry Using the Limited Bedding and Nesting Model

Published on: July 12, 2024

2.5K

Related Concept Videos

Pedigree Analysis01:35

Pedigree Analysis

Overview
78.7K
Bias in Epidemiological Studies01:29

Bias in Epidemiological Studies

Biases can arise at various stages of research, from study design and data collection to analysis and interpretation. Recognizing and addressing these biases is essential to ensure the validity and reliability of epidemiological findings.Broadly speaking, biases in epidemiology fall into three main categories: selection bias, information bias, and confounding. A more detailed description of possible biases is:  
1.6K
Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience,...
19.4K
Regression Toward the Mean01:52

Regression Toward the Mean

Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when...
6.3K
Human Genetics01:28

Human Genetics

Human genetics provides a profound framework for understanding the interplay between genetic predispositions and human psychology. At the heart of this discipline lies the study of how genes influence physical traits, behaviors, and susceptibility to diseases. Each person carries a unique genetic code that subtly or significantly shapes their psychological and behavioral landscape.
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
2.0K
Polygenic Traits01:18

Polygenic Traits

When more than one gene is responsible for a given phenotype, the trait is considered polygenic. Human height is a polygenic trait. Studies have uncovered hundreds of loci that influence height, and there are believed to be many more. Due to the high number of genes involved, as well as environmental and nutritional factors, height varies significantly within a given population. The distribution of height forms a bell-shaped curve, with relatively few individuals in the population at the...
58.3K