Moscow University
Anthropology
Bulletin
Anthropology
Bulletin
Lomonosov Moscow State University, Anuchin Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology, Mokhovaya st., 11, Moscow, 125009, Russia
Kokoba Elizaveta G., e-mail: kokoba.e@yandex.ru
The paper presents the results of anthropological studies of the adult Abkhazian population (aged 20 to 90 years old) of three villages for 30 years. The data were collected in 1980, 1990 and 2010. The paper analyzes secular changes in stature, body weight, chest circumference, waist and hip circumferences, skinfold thickness on the trunk and extremities; in subcutaneous fat and total body fat calculated by of J. Matiegka’s method; in hand grip strength. Quetelet, or Body mass index (BMI) was calculated. The material is presented for each survey over three decades. Significance of differences was calculated with the Student’s T-test. Empirical distributions of some parameters in the three surveys were analyzed. Secular changes of body length were examined in the pooled data. The results show that Abkhazians, born between 1920 and 1990, reveal the existence of secular trend in stature, with the rate of 0.24 cm for men and 0.85 cm for women for each decade. Secular dynamics of stature for men is not even, whereas for women – it is a gradual increase over the entire historical period. Maximal average values are found in women born in 1981–1990. For men, minimal average values of stature are found for those born 1931-1940, as a consequence of a difficult period of social upheaval (collectivization, purges, the Great Patriotic War), maximal values – for those born in 1961–1970, as a result of the acceleration process. Men born in 1981-1990 are characterized by a slight decrease in their body length as a result of the unfavorable growth conditions in the 1990s. Analysis of the distribution of individual values for body length indicates the continuation of acceleration process and its stabilization for women. Comparative analysis of the skinfolds in the Abkhazians of different generations was also performed, and body mass components (subcutaneous fat and total body fat) were calculated with J. Matiegka’s equations. The findings show a marked increase in the skinfold thickness (subscapular, chest, abdominal) in men and women of the 2010 survey, as well as high rates of age-related changes in these traits. The same is true for the fat mass. Perhaps this is due to metabolic disturbances caused by the stress of military actions and post-war situation in the 1990s in Abkhazia. With each subsequent survey, the younger generation of the Abkhazians is characterized by weaker physical development as demonstrated by hand grip strength. The results of the study show that environmental factors have a strong effect on the physical status of the genetically stable population of rural Abkhazians. In the former longevity population of Abkhazians there are a lot of changes in physical characteristics that affect the rate of increase in age-related changes. This may be explained by the unfavorable socioeconomic processes of the 1990s in Abkhazia.
physical anthropology, morphology, Abkhazians, somatic characteristics, stature, body weight, body-mass index (BMI), circumferences, fat mass, secular trend, age changes
Цит.: Kokoba E.G. Secular changes in body morphology of the adult Abkhazian population in the last decades // Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seria XXIII. Antropologia), 2014; 2/2014; с. 65-79
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