American Journal of Human Biology最新文献

{"title":"Associations Between Motor Competence, Health-Related Physical Fitness, and Mental Health Outcomes in Spanish Adolescents: The ENERGYCO Study","authors":"Víctor Manuel Valle-Muñoz,&nbsp;Manuel Ávila-García,&nbsp;Pablo Campos-Garzón,&nbsp;Unai A. Pérez De Arrilucea Le Floc’h,&nbsp;Isaac Estevan,&nbsp;Emilio Villa-González","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70318","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.70318","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Motor competence (MC) has been proposed as an important correlate of physical and mental health during youth. However, evidence examining its associations with both health-related physical fitness and mental health in Spanish adolescents remains limited.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To examine the associations between objectively assessed MC and health-related physical fitness and mental health in Spanish adolescents.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This cross-sectional study included 273 adolescents (46.9% girls; 12–17 years). MC was assessed using the Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency Short Form (BOT-2 SF). Anthropometric measures, physical fitness, and mental health were assessed using validated protocols and questionnaires. Two-level linear mixed-effects and generalized estimating equation logistic regression models were adjusted for sex, biological maturation, socioeconomic status, and self-reported physical activity.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Higher MC was consistently associated with more favorable health-related physical fitness outcomes (all <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and with a greater likelihood of meeting established health-related physical fitness criteria. MC was inversely associated with waist-to-height ratio (<i>p</i> = 0.028), whereas no consistent associations were observed with other anthropometric measures or mental health outcomes.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Higher MC was consistently associated with health-related physical fitness in Spanish adolescents, whereas associations with anthropometric measures and mental health were limited. Future adequately powered longitudinal and intervention studies are warranted to clarify the directionality of these relationships.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"38 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148667471","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":"Associations Between Motor Competence, Health-Related Physical Fitness, and Mental Health Outcomes in Spanish Adolescents: The ENERGYCO Study","authors":"Víctor Manuel Valle-Muñoz,&nbsp;Manuel Ávila-García,&nbsp;Pablo Campos-Garzón,&nbsp;Unai A. Pérez De Arrilucea Le Floc’h,&nbsp;Isaac Estevan,&nbsp;Emilio Villa-González","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70318","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.70318","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Motor competence (MC) has been proposed as an important correlate of physical and mental health during youth. However, evidence examining its associations with both health-related physical fitness and mental health in Spanish adolescents remains limited.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To examine the associations between objectively assessed MC and health-related physical fitness and mental health in Spanish adolescents.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This cross-sectional study included 273 adolescents (46.9% girls; 12–17 years). MC was assessed using the Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency Short Form (BOT-2 SF). Anthropometric measures, physical fitness, and mental health were assessed using validated protocols and questionnaires. Two-level linear mixed-effects and generalized estimating equation logistic regression models were adjusted for sex, biological maturation, socioeconomic status, and self-reported physical activity.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Higher MC was consistently associated with more favorable health-related physical fitness outcomes (all <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and with a greater likelihood of meeting established health-related physical fitness criteria. MC was inversely associated with waist-to-height ratio (<i>p</i> = 0.028), whereas no consistent associations were observed with other anthropometric measures or mental health outcomes.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Higher MC was consistently associated with health-related physical fitness in Spanish adolescents, whereas associations with anthropometric measures and mental health were limited. Future adequately powered longitudinal and intervention studies are warranted to clarify the directionality of these relationships.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"38 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148667474","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":"Associations Between Motor Competence, Health-Related Physical Fitness, and Mental Health Outcomes in Spanish Adolescents: The ENERGYCO Study","authors":"Víctor Manuel Valle-Muñoz,&nbsp;Manuel Ávila-García,&nbsp;Pablo Campos-Garzón,&nbsp;Unai A. Pérez De Arrilucea Le Floc’h,&nbsp;Isaac Estevan,&nbsp;Emilio Villa-González","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70318","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.70318","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Motor competence (MC) has been proposed as an important correlate of physical and mental health during youth. However, evidence examining its associations with both health-related physical fitness and mental health in Spanish adolescents remains limited.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To examine the associations between objectively assessed MC and health-related physical fitness and mental health in Spanish adolescents.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This cross-sectional study included 273 adolescents (46.9% girls; 12–17 years). MC was assessed using the Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency Short Form (BOT-2 SF). Anthropometric measures, physical fitness, and mental health were assessed using validated protocols and questionnaires. Two-level linear mixed-effects and generalized estimating equation logistic regression models were adjusted for sex, biological maturation, socioeconomic status, and self-reported physical activity.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Higher MC was consistently associated with more favorable health-related physical fitness outcomes (all <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and with a greater likelihood of meeting established health-related physical fitness criteria. MC was inversely associated with waist-to-height ratio (<i>p</i> = 0.028), whereas no consistent associations were observed with other anthropometric measures or mental health outcomes.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Higher MC was consistently associated with health-related physical fitness in Spanish adolescents, whereas associations with anthropometric measures and mental health were limited. Future adequately powered longitudinal and intervention studies are warranted to clarify the directionality of these relationships.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"38 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148667421","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":"Secular Trends in Height, Weight, and Body Mass Index Among Tibetan Children and Adolescents in the Tibet Autonomous Region, China, From 2005 to 2019","authors":"Chen Zhang,&nbsp;Meng Yuan,&nbsp;Bin Li,&nbsp;Zhihong Chen,&nbsp;Xiaokun Mu,&nbsp;Yi Sun","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70317","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70317","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objective</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study aimed to characterize growth and development patterns among children and adolescents in the Tibet Autonomous Region and to interpret their human biological significance through the interaction between hypoxic exposure and improvements in nutrition, healthcare, and socioeconomic conditions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Data were drawn from the 2005, 2010, 2014, and 2019 Chinese National Survey on Students' Constitution and Health. The study included Tibetan school students aged 7–18 years from testing sites in and around Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China, at an altitude of approximately 3600 m. Height and weight were measured using standardized protocols, and BMI was calculated. Sex-specific and age-specific means and standard deviations were reported by survey year. Differences across years were assessed using one-way analysis of variance, with temporal trend tests also performed.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>From 2005 to 2019, Tibetan children and adolescents showed an overall upward trend in height, weight, and BMI. For height, significant differences across survey years were observed in most age groups among both boys and girls, except for the group aged 16 years (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). The greatest height gains occurred among boys aged 13 years and girls aged 10 years, indicating age-specific heterogeneity in secular growth changes. Weight followed a broadly similar pattern: mean body weight in 2019 exceeded that in 2005 in most sex and age-specific groups, with particularly marked increases among boys aged 13 years and girls aged 10 years. BMI increased gradually, with more evident gains in some age groups after 2010, although the magnitude of BMI change was smaller than that observed for height and weight. Concurrently, the number of participants classified as having height-related growth retardation declined from 150 in 2005 to 35 in 2019, suggesting a substantial reduction in the burden of low stature and an overall improvement in population-level growth status.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Despite continuous exposure to high altitude hypoxia, Tibetan children and adolescents experienced measurable improvements in physical growth between 2005 and 2019. These findings indicate that although hypoxia remains a key ecological constraint on growth at high altitude, its adverse effects may be partly buffered by enhanced nutritional security, school-based dietary support, improved healthcare resources, and broader socioeconomic development.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"38 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148609757","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":"Birth Weight in the Daasanach Community of Northern Kenya and the Effect of Multiparity","authors":"Kathryn Zhang,&nbsp;Elena Hinz,&nbsp;Srishti Sadhir,&nbsp;Leslie Ford,&nbsp;Amanda McGrosky,&nbsp;Rosemary Nzunza,&nbsp;David Braun,&nbsp;Emmanuel Ndiema,&nbsp;Asher Rosinger,&nbsp;Herman Pontzer","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70313","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70313","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objectives</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Pregnancy is physiologically demanding and may have long-term effects on mothers, yet the effects of prior pregnancies on pregnancy outcomes are not well understood, particularly among non-industrialized subsistence populations. This research explores the effect of parity on birth weight and risk of low birth weight (LBW, &lt; 2500 g) within the Daasanach, a subsistence population in Kenya, and compares data to the United States.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study examined delivery records collected from 2011 to 2022 at the Illeret Health Clinic (<i>n</i> = 111) in Marsabit County, Kenya, which provides maternal medical services to Daasanach communities, and a sample from the CDC's US National Vital Statistics System (<i>n</i> = 3 127 176). Birth weight differences and LBW unadjusted odds ratios were calculated between primiparous, low multiparous, and grand multiparous groups.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>No significant effect of parity on birth weight was found in the Daasanach sample, but mean birth weight was lower than the U.S. (difference = 337 g, SE = 43.6 g, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) and incidence of LBW was higher (difference = 6.22%, 95% CI = 0.45%–12.0%, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). US records showed decreased risk of LBW between primiparity and low multiparity, and increased risk between low multiparity and grand multiparity (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05), while Daasanach data showed a non-significant contrary trend for the latter.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Findings highlight the impact of the energetic demands and environments associated with subsistence populations on birth outcomes. Furthermore, results suggest differing effects of parity on birth weight in subsistence populations, particularly in grand multiparity.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"38 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148563111","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":"Study Protocol: Homelessness and Health: Integrating Structural, Social, and Behavioral Pathways","authors":"Lesley Jo Weaver,&nbsp;L. Zachary DuBois,&nbsp;Mackenzie Ní Flainn,&nbsp;J. Josh Snodgrass","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70316","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70316","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This protocol paper describes the methods of a multi-year study examining individual, community, and structural-level influences on health among people experiencing homelessness in a mid-sized Oregon city. We draw on biocultural theory and method to examine three distinct social ecologies of homelessness in the study setting: unsheltered homelessness, temporarily sheltered homelessness, and permanent supportive or transitional housing. Our mixed-method approach incorporates epidemiological-style questionnaires, biomarkers sampled via finger prick blood and hair, and in-depth case study interviews to holistically examine the pathways that connect homelessness and physical and mental health, and to compare outcomes across the three social ecologies of homelessness. Preliminary results are now emerging and are being used in public advocacy as well as research publications.</p>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"38 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13392578/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148563425","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":"Exclusive Breastfeeding and Growth Trajectories Until 5 Years of Age Among Children Monitored in Primary Health Care in Brazil","authors":"Andressa Freire Salviano,&nbsp;Bianca de Melo Guedes,&nbsp;Luana Monteiro Barros,&nbsp;Nathália Teixeira de Oliveira,&nbsp;Dayana Rodrigues Farias,&nbsp;Bárbara Hatzlhoffer Lourenço","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70315","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70315","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objectives</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is relevant for child growth, especially in contexts of socioeconomic vulnerability. This study estimates growth trajectories until 5 years of age according to EBF among children monitored in primary health care in Brazil.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Longitudinal analysis using data from the Food and Nutrition Surveillance System (2015–2019). EBF was characterized according to food intake markers in two age groups (0 to &lt; 3 and 3 to &lt; 6 months). Mixed linear models with restricted cubic splines estimated trajectories of BMI-for-age (BAZ; <i>n</i> = 148 705 at 0 to &lt; 3 months, <i>n</i> = 135 662 at 3 to &lt; 6 months) and height-for-age (HAZ; <i>n</i> = 127 812 at 0 to &lt; 3 months, <i>n</i> = 108 846 at 3 to &lt; 6 months) z-scores using repeated anthropometric measurements collected after the exposure assessment.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>BAZ and HAZ were significantly higher until 6 months among exclusively breastfed children. Between ages 9–36 months, EBF interruption at 0 to &lt; 3 months was associated with higher BAZ (reaching 0.70 z, 95% CI 0.69; 0.72 at age 18 months, vs. EBF: 0.59 z, 95% CI 0.58; 0.60). Higher HAZ was observed after age 9 months among children who were not exclusively breastfed. EBF interruption at 0 to &lt; 3 months was related to higher BAZ at age 60 months (0.62 z, 95% CI 0.49; 0.74) compared to interruption at 3 to &lt; 6 months (0.36 z, 95% CI 0.29; 0.44).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>EBF was associated with higher BAZ and HAZ until age 6 months. Early EBF interruption led particularly to higher BAZ trajectories until age 5 years. Promoting adequate infant feeding practices may improve child growth.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"38 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13385645/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148537662","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":"Temporal Changes in Nutritional Status, Body Composition and Intestinal Parasitic Infections Among Mbyá-Guaraní Children and Adolescents From Misiones, Argentina: A Comparison of Two Cross-Sectional Studies","authors":"María Lorena Zonta,&nbsp;Joaquín U. Zucol,&nbsp;Mariela Garraza","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70312","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70312","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objectives</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Previous studies in Mbyá-guaraní communities from Misiones province, Argentina, documented high levels of childhood undernutrition and intestinal parasitic infections. This study aimed to evaluate temporal changes in nutritional status, body composition, and intestinal parasitic infections among Mbyá-guaraní children and adolescents by comparing two cross-sectional studies conducted at different time points.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Anthropometric and parasitological data were obtained in two studies (S1: 2005–2007; S2: 2018–2019). A total of 263 children and adolescents aged 3–14 years were included. Nutritional status and body composition were evaluated using NHANES III reference standards. Intestinal parasitic infections were assessed in a subsample of 120 children from both studies using standardized parasitological techniques.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Overall undernutrition was lower in S2 than in S1, mainly due to differences in stunting prevalence (S1: 54.8%; S2: 40.2%; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). This difference was also observed among females (S1: 56.6%; S2: 27.3%; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Although the overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was lower in S2 than in S1, it remained high in both studies (S1: 93.3%; S2: 85.0%). The prevalences of <i>Entamoeba coli</i>, <i>Endolimax nana</i>, hookworms, and <i>Blastocystis</i> spp. were lower in S2 than in S1, whereas the prevalence of <i>Enterobius vermicularis</i> was higher in S1 than in S2 (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our findings indicate that linear growth impairment and intestinal parasitic infections remain highly prevalent among children and adolescents from Mbyá-guaraní communities. These results highlight sustained public health actions aimed at reducing stunting and intestinal parasitic infections.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"38 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148521515","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":"Longitudinal Growth Patterns in Boys and Girls Aged 9–14 Years by Birth Season","authors":"Arta Grabcika,&nbsp;Dzintra Kazoka,&nbsp;Janis Vetra,&nbsp;Mara Pilmane","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70311","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70311","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background and Objectives</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Birth season has been proposed as a proxy for various prenatal and early-life environmental exposures that may influence human growth and development. This study aimed to evaluate whether anthropometric parameters in Latvian children aged 9–14 years differ by birth season.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Materials and Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A longitudinal study was conducted on 203 healthy Latvian children aged 9–14 years at the Anthropology Laboratory of the Institute of Anatomy and Anthropology, Riga Stradins University. Anthropometric measurements included height, weight, head circumference, chest circumference, and <i>distantia intercristale</i>. Children were classified into four groups according to their birth season: winter (December–February), spring (March–May), summer (June–August), and autumn (September–November).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Anthropometric parameters increased progressively with age across all seasonal groups. No statistically significant seasonal differences were observed for body height, body weight, head circumference, chest circumference, or <i>distantia intercristale</i> at any age (all <i>p</i> &gt; 0.05). Seasonal variations were generally small, and effect sizes ranged from negligible to small across all anthropometric measures.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Minor seasonal differences in mean anthropometric values were observed; however, no consistent pattern favoring a particular birth season emerged. These findings suggest that birth season has little influence on anthropometric development between 9 and 14 years of age. Instead, age-related growth and pubertal maturation appear to be the primary determinants of variation in body size and proportions. This study provides longitudinal, population-specific data on childhood growth in Latvia and contributes to understanding the role of early-life environmental factors in physical development.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"38 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ajhb.70311","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148431495","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":"Secular Trend and Socioeconomic Variation in Body Height of Young Polish Men Between 1965 and 2023","authors":"Aleksandra Gomula,&nbsp;Natalia Nowak-Szczepanska,&nbsp;Robert M. Malina,&nbsp;Michal Kopczynski,&nbsp;Slawomir Koziel","doi":"10.1002/ajhb.70309","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ajhb.70309","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Objectives</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Secular trends in body height reflect changes in living conditions and population health, while socioeconomic gradients in height indicate persistent inequalities in growth opportunities. The aim of this study was to examine secular trends and socioeconomic variation in height among young adult Polish men between 1965 and 2023.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Data included nationally representative surveys of Polish military conscripts conducted in 1965, 1986, 1995, 2001, 2010, and 2023 (<i>N</i> = 137 551). Body height was measured and socioeconomic status (SES) was estimated by questionnaire using four indicators: urbanization level (city, town, village), mother's and father's education (university, secondary, vocational, elementary), and family size (1–2, 3, and 4 or more children). Overall SES was estimated with principal component analysis and divided into three categories: high, medium, low. Statistical analyses included one-way and two-way ANOVAs with Tukey post hoc tests for unequal samples; effect sizes were expressed as partial eta squared (<i>η</i>²).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Mean height increased significantly across successive surveys (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.0001), with the largest gains between 1965 and 1986. The secular trend progressively decelerated, with minimal increases observed between 2010 and 2023. Socioeconomic variation in height declined over time but remained statistically significant for most SES indicators in 2023, except for urbanization (<i>p</i> &gt; 0.05). The reduction in differences was largely due to greater height gains among lower SES groups after 2001. Note, however, effect sizes for all SES factors were small: partial <i>η</i>² values from 0.008 to 0.012, and medium for the year of survey: <i>η</i>² values from 0.040 to 0.125.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The continued but slowing increase in body height suggests that Polish men are approaching population growth potential. However, persistent socioeconomic differences in terms of parental education and family size imply that individuals from lower socioeconomic strata still retain potential for biological catch-up.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":50809,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Human Biology","volume":"38 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148430805","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}