American Journal of Human Biology最新文献

{"title":"Detection of Anemia in Schoolchildren Aged 6–18 Years With Hematocrit Percentile Charts and the Impact of Economic Status in Southern Brazil","authors":"Vanessa Regina Jung,&nbsp;Nikolas Mateus Pereira de Souza,&nbsp;Dhuli Kimberli Abeg da Rosa,&nbsp;João Francisco de Castro Silveira,&nbsp;Cézane Priscila Reuter,&nbsp;Alexandre Rieger","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70034","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.70034","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To generate hematocrit percentile charts for schoolchildren aged 6–18 years and determine the prevalence of anemia by socioeconomic status class in southern Brazil.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This is a cross-sectional study utilizing data collected between 2014 and 2017 from southern Brazil. The study's sample consists of 4802 schoolchildren, aged 6 to 18 years. The percentile charts for sex-specific hematocrit were developed using the LMS (Lambda-Mu-Sigma) method. The simplified economic classification, based on ABEP criteria, was used to group individuals into A + B (high), C (middle), and D + E (low) income classes. Anemia was defined as hematocrit z-score ≤ −1.96 for age and sex.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Among boys, 58 (2.86%) were anemic, 1955 (94.81%) had normal hematocrit levels, and 48 (2.33%) had high hematocrit. Girls showed a similar pattern, with 73 (2.73%) anemic, 2534 (94.90%) with normal hematocrit, and 63 (2.36%) with high hematocrit. For girls, a higher prevalence of non-anemic hematocrit was observed in class A (39.33%) compared to anemic children (23.28%), with significant standardized residuals. For boys, significant residuals were observed for a higher prevalence of anemic children in the lower socioeconomic class DE (13.79%) compared to non-anemic children (5.18%), and a higher prevalence of non-anemic children in the upper socioeconomic class A (42.63%) compared to anemic children (22.41%).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The percentile charts generated from hematocrit levels enabled the comparison of anemia prevalence across socioeconomic status classes. A higher prevalence of anemia was found among boys in lower socioeconomic classes, while girls in higher socioeconomic classes showed a lower prevalence of anemia.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"37 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ajhb.70034","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143741503","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Complex Interplay of Irisin Levels, Low Birth Weight, and Blood Pressure in Prepubescent Children","authors":"Raissa Munhão Serra,&nbsp;Franciele De Meneck,&nbsp;Fernanda Thomazini,&nbsp;Paula Regina Pereira de Souza,&nbsp;Maria Franco","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70036","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.70036","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Irisin regulates various metabolic, inflammatory, and oxidative stress processes. It has been considered a promising target in the context of the development and maintenance of cardiovascular diseases. We conducted a study to evaluate the levels of plasma irisin in prepubertal children, examining its relationship with birth weight, anthropometric parameters, biochemical profile, and blood pressure levels.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 136 prepubertal children aged 6 to 11 years, with 27.9% born at a low weight. Anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, and biochemical profiles were assessed.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Children with low birth weight had significantly lower irisin levels compared to those with normal birth weight (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Birth weight was negatively correlated with blood pressure levels (systolic: <i>r</i> = −0.213, <i>p =</i> 0.013; diastolic: <i>r</i> = −0.223, <i>p =</i> 0.009) and positively correlated with irisin levels (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Irisin levels were positively associated with systolic blood pressure, even after adjusting for birth weight, BMI, and physical activity (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). The linear regression analysis indicated that low birth weight and high plasma levels of irisin were recognized as predictive factors of elevated blood pressure levels.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The positive correlation observed between circulating irisin and systolic blood pressure levels in children with low birth weight, despite their lower irisin levels, suggests a complex interplay between birth weight, irisin, cardiovascular regulation, and metabolic function. Understanding this relationship may require considering that irisin may play dual roles in different tissues, compensatory mechanisms, and the broader context of cardiometabolic programming in children with low birth weight.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"37 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143741502","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Food Insecurity and Nutritional Status Among Pregnant Women Living in Socio-Economic Vulnerability in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires (Argentina)","authors":"Noelia Bonfili,&nbsp;Lara Garnis,&nbsp;Mariela Nievas,&nbsp;Paula N. Gonzalez,&nbsp;Jimena Barbeito-Andrés","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70033","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.70033","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To analyze food insecurity (FI) in pregnant women from the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires (AMBA) and its association with socio-economic variables and nutritional status, as well as to identify dietary patterns in women experiencing moderate and severe FI.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Between July 2021 and September 2023, an observational and cross-sectional study was performed. Data from 349 women was recorded in public health centers of disadvantaged urban areas. FI was assessed with the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), and the nutritional status was evaluated using the body mass index by gestational age. Chi-square, Spearman, and Wilcoxon tests were used to examine associations between FI, nutritional status, socioeconomic conditions, and dietary patterns.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Only 30% of interviewed women were classified as food secure, while 31% experienced moderate FI and 11.5% severe FI. Among socio-economic variables, fewer years of formal education and critical overcrowding were significantly associated with FI. A large part of the sample (68%) had some type of malnutrition (overweight or obesity: 52.7%, undernutrition: 11.2%), which was also significantly associated with FI. Dietary patterns differed between women with moderate and severe FI, with the latter consuming less healthy and more processed foods.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our results suggest that women in reproductive ages living in urban areas from the AMBA region have elevated levels of FI, especially moderate FI, even when compared with other vulnerable populations from Latin America. This study confirmed that FI is related to different types of maternal malnutrition, which constitutes a prenatal adversity with diverse potential effects on the offspring.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"37 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143741557","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Self-Assessment of Mental and Physical Health of Adolescents (10–15 Years Old) From Kraków (Poland)","authors":"Julia Badzińska,&nbsp;Magdalena Żegleń,&nbsp;Łukasz Kryst","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70039","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.70039","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The study aimed to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescents' mental and physical health. Using the Polish version of the Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) questionnaire, data were collected from adolescent participants (10–15 years old). The analysis was based on the frequency distribution of choices for individual statements. It was found that compared to the time before the pandemic, there was more frequent school-related stress, faster fatigue, and more frequent pain in various parts of the body. Adolescents also declared greater food consumption now than before the pandemic and increased consumption of sweets. The study provided important information indicating potential courses of action to improve the health and well-being of adolescents after the pandemic.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"37 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143741504","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Children's Caregiving and Growth in Northwestern Tanzania: Limited Evidence That Support From Specific Caregivers Is Associated With Better Growth","authors":"Anushé Hassan,&nbsp;David W. Lawson,&nbsp;Abigail E. Page,&nbsp;Rebecca Sear,&nbsp;Susan B. Schaffnit,&nbsp;Mark Urassa","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70029","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.70029","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Receiving care from individuals other than one's mother (i.e., allomothering) is a universal aspect of raising children, but whether and how such care impacts children's health remains subject to debate. Existing studies in low-income societies largely use broad proxies for caregiving behaviors rather than measuring childcare activities, which may mask variation in allomothering and, thus, its impact on children's health. Using data collected to address these limitations we measure, for 808 children under 5 years in Northwestern Tanzania: (a) Maternal residence, (b) receipt of two childcare types from seven caregivers; and (c) children's growth (height-for-age and weight-for-height). We predict that (1) allomothering will be beneficial for children's growth and (2) benefits of allomothering will be most evident within mother nonresident households. We demonstrate that children receive care from a range of allomothers, even when mothers co-reside; and there are associations between care from different relatives. Receiving care from relatives of the same lineage tends to be positively associated, whereas care from fathers is negatively associated with care from maternal relatives. Maternal residence is not associated with child growth. We find little support for our predictions, with few and inconsistent associations between allomothering and child growth. Our findings suggest that our measures of care, while more nuanced than previous proxies, do not fully capture the complexity of caregiving. Pathways between allomothering and child growth may be further elucidated through more comprehensive care indicators, which specifically measure maternal need for help, and whether allomothering is in addition to, or substitutive of, maternal care.</p>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"37 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ajhb.70029","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143707553","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"“Recent Research on the Human Biology of Pastoralists” by B. Campbell","authors":"Alexandre Fabre,&nbsp;Paul Guerry","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70032","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.70032","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"37 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143689851","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association Between Parity and Bone Mineral Density in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey","authors":"Cristina M. Gildee,&nbsp;Patricia Ann Kramer","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70030","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70030","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Bone remodeling relies on a dynamic process of concurrent deposition and resorption of bone material, which regulates bone mineral density (BMD), a critical component of overall bone health. Chronic dysregulation of the remodeling process during an individual's life can result in low BMD, osteoporosis, reduced mineral reserves and/or increased fracture risk. Prior studies have investigated the link between parity and BMD, positing that one cost of reproduction is increased bone resorption above deposition, resulting in net BMD loss. Further, bone remodeling is sensitive to repetitive mechanical loading, suggesting that differences in bone loading could modify associations between parity and BMD. We seek to understand how reproductive investment (using parity as a proxy) challenges bone remodeling.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We examined associations between parity and regional BMD using anthropometric, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and questionnaire data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007–2018 cohorts; <i>n</i> = 5144).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In unadjusted linear regressions, higher parity was associated with lower BMD in all regions except the thoracic spine, arms, and total BMD (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.004). In regressions adjusting for BMI and age, parity was positively associated with BMD in the pelvis, arms, and total BMD (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.004). The maximally controlled models, which adjust for race/ethnicity, sedentary time, poverty income ratio, and lifetime estrogen exposure, among other health and lifestyle variables, yielded similar results.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Discussion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our results suggest that more rigorous statistical modeling and selection of reproductive cost variables may help explicate the biological mechanisms underlying conflicting parity-BMD associations and their impact on bone health and aging.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"37 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143677354","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Demographic Study of Aste-Béon (Ossau Valley, Bearn), a Small Community From French Western Pyrenees in the 19th Century","authors":"Jean-Pierre Dugène,&nbsp;Frédéric Bauduer","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70028","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.70028","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objectives</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To decipher the social behaviors and public health status of a 19th-century small Western Pyrenean community using various historical demography data.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>From censuses, civil and parish registers of births, marriages, and deaths/burials, migration archives, and administrative records, we analyzed a series of demographic parameters in the village of Aste-Béon between 1801 and 1900.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Acknowledging the limitations of such a historical demography approach (especially losses of data and underreporting of deaths of very young individuals), this study enabled us to draw a series of conclusions. We observed the usual demographic pattern shared by all Pyrenean communities, with a declining population during the second part of the century. A strong influence of agropastoral activity and Catholic practices on the social organization of this community was evidenced by the seasonality of conceptions and marriages. The disappearance of the traditional family and inheritance system at the end of the century was illustrated by a decreased age at marriage and a declining nuptiality rate. We confirmed the very high level of valley endogamy associated with a relatively intense degree of intra-valley marriage-associated mobility. A series of mortality crises related to epidemics (some cases documented: cholera, smallpox, and dysentery) was detected. Migration to Argentina and Uruguay was organized, especially between 1866 and 1872, including mainly nonfirstborn males who did not inherit familial property. The relatively low infant mortality rate, satisfactory lifespan, and absence of detectable increases in mortality during the winter months and periods of food scarcity argue in favor of a quite satisfactory sanitary level.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This historical demography study offers additional insights into the social organization and health status of a unique Western Pyrenean community during the 19th century.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"37 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143595009","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seasonality and Differential Growth Patterns of Body Dimensions of Children in a Rural Community of Yucatan, Mexico","authors":"Lucely Nataly Molina-Félix,&nbsp;Barry Bogin,&nbsp;Sudip Datta Banik","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.70015","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Seasonality of human growth evinces the association between environmental variation, including the physical and the social–economic–political environment, and biological changes. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the seasonality of the growth of body dimensions (absolute and relative to height) of 2- to 5-year-old children and their differential increment (percentage changes) in the dry, rainy, and “<i>nortes</i>” seasons at Quintana Roo in Yucatan, Mexico.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The study was mixed-longitudinal. Repeated anthropometric measurements (height, weight, head circumference, sitting height, knee height) were recorded at the end of the dry, rainy, <i>nortes</i>, and again dry seasons of 31 preschool children in Quintana Roo, Yucatan. The derived variables (body dimensions relative to height) were the sitting height ratio (SHR) and knee height ratio (KHR). Data on seasonal variation in children's eating habits, availability of food items, and frequencies of signs, symptoms, and illnesses reported by the mothers were recorded.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The participants grew more in height and other body lengths between the <i>nortes</i> and dry seasons. Body weight increased most during the <i>nortes</i> and least in the rainy season when the frequencies and duration of illness were higher. Differences in mean values between the seasons were higher for KHR than for SHR. Children's eating habits, the availability of food items, and the frequencies of signs and symptoms of illness were different in the seasons.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Seasonality and differential growth patterns of body dimensions were observed in preschool children. The growth of the lower leg length (knee height) was more sensitive to seasonality than the trunk (sitting height).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"37 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ajhb.70015","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143595008","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sleep Health in Human Biology Research","authors":"Kristen L. Knutson","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.70025","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;One tenet of anthropology is that there are few human universals, and the need for sleep is one of these few human universals. All must sleep, much like we all must eat and breathe, and if we do not sleep, our health is impaired in myriad ways. Despite this universal need, numerous aspects of culture, environment, and biology shape sleep patterns, which result in variations in sleep health among human groups. In my 2012 publication (Knutson &lt;span&gt;2012&lt;/span&gt;), I reviewed the link between inadequate sleep and obesity risk, as well as the associated conditions, diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). To summarize the review, there was both experimental and observational evidence indicating that inadequate sleep, particularly shorter sleep durations, was associated with increased prevalence or incidence of obesity, diabetes, and CVD. In this Commentary, I will revisit the important role human biologists can play in understanding human variation in sleep health, its determinants, and its impact on population/global health.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;My prior review focused primarily on sleep duration, which has been the most studied characteristic of sleep. However, it is now well recognized that sleep health is a multidimensional phenomenon and that most—if not all—of these dimensions are important for human health (see Figure 1). In addition to the amount of sleep, other dimensions include sleep quality, the timing of sleep (i.e., the clock time), sleep regularity (i.e., sleeping at about the same time from day to day), and daytime sleepiness. The macroarchitecture of sleep, which refers to the different sleep stages, such as rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM sleep, as well as the microarchitecture of sleep, which refers to a detailed analysis of the electroencephalogram (EEG), is also an important sleep health characteristic. Finally, the presence or absence of sleep disorders, such as insomnia or sleep apnea, should also be considered.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In its infancy, sleep research focused primarily on brain-related outcomes, such as memory, cognitive performance or mood disorders. Indeed, it seemed to be assumed that sleep was “by and for the brain” while the rest of the body was ignored. However, the experimental work described in my prior review clearly demonstrated that sleep reaches beyond the brain and impacts our entire physiology. Further, although my prior review focused on cardiometabolic outcomes, substantial research has established a role for sleep in numerous other health domains (see Figure 1), including immune function, which has implications for infectious disease and cancer risk, cognitive function, and brain maintenance, which are linked to Alzheimer's Disease and dementia, and mental health, which can include depression, anxiety or even risk-taking. Given the broad implications of impaired sleep health for overall human health, sleep should be considered one of the pillars of a healthy lifestyle.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Sleep is a biological necessity that is also s","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"37 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ajhb.70025","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143595293","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}