Age changes in skeletal diameters of two communities of Punjab (India) from 20 to 80 years

The study was conducted on a cross-sectional sample of 502 Jat-Sikh and 510 Bania females ranging in age from 20 to 80 years. The results indicate that shoulder breadth increases up to age group 30-39. After that a decrease sets in, but the bicristal diameter continues to increase up to the sixth decade. The diameters of the extremities have also shown continuous increase up to the fifth or sixth decade in both the communities. On an average, the Jat-Sikh women possess significantly broader shoulders, hips and diameters of the extremities, except for knee diameter, which is slightly bigger in Bania females. This phenomenon has been attributed to genetic factors as well as to the physically active mode of life of Jat-Sikhs as compared to Banias.