An anthropometric survey of growth and physique of the populations of Karkar Island and Lufa subdistrict, New Guinea

Abstract

Child growth, adult physique and somatic changes in old age are compared in the two populations by means of a cross-sectional survey. The results indicate that the physique of the Lufa Highlanders has features in common with high-altitude populations. Throughout the growth period the Lufa people are heavier, more muscular and skeletally more robust than the Karkar Islanders. Maturity is reached earlier in the coastal population and the close relation between adult height, child growth rate and maturity observed in some parts of New Guinea, including Lufa, does not apply to the island community. The two populations are similar in adult height but differ significantly in body proportions and in dimensions of the head and face. Ageing proceeds rapidly after the third decade and the effects appear with greater uniformity than in Western populations. Decrease in body mass is particularly striking. Physiological and pathological ageing together with secular trends contribute to the variation in anthropometric characteristics with age, although the relative contributions of these phenomena appear to differ in the two populations.

Impact of migration, environment and socioeconomic conditions on the physique of Sikhs

“…However, there is also evidence for a decline in weight with age in females in both Jats and Ravidassias and in migrants as well as sedentes. Here the phenomenon may be related to childbearing, as a decrease in weight with age has been observed in both males and females in other populations and especially in Papua New Guinea (Harvey, 1974;Brush, Boyce and Harrison, 1983). 115 The age effects on skinfolds in males do not totally follow those on weight.…”

Fat patterning in Papua New Guineans: Effects of age, sex and acculturation

“…The two sites and the study have been described in detail elsewhere (Harrison and Walsh, 1974;Hornabrook, 1977) as have the anthropometry (Harvey, 1973;1974) and the body composition of the adults (Norgan et al, 1982;Norgan and Ferro-Luzzi, 1985). The Kaul villages on Kar Kar Island off the north coast of Papua New Guinea experience a hot, humid climate with distinct wet and dry seasons.…”

Declining Patterns of Average Height of Adult Indians Between 20 and 49 Years: State Wise Trends and Influence of Socioeconomic Factors

“…For some adults it may be visible even in late thirties. There is considerable variation of it among different populations in the world (Harvey 1974;Roche et al 1981;Malina et al 1982) and in India (Sidhu et al 1975;Singh 1978;Bagga 2010Bagga , 2013. In India, this type of studies has been carried out for adults who have already attained 60 years and the adults in their twenties (Sharma et al 1975).…”