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5. Secular changes in body dimensions of Moscow infants

Secular changes in body dimensions of Moscow infants

Deryabin V.E. (1), Fedotova T.K. (2), Gorbacheva A.K. (2)

1) Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of biology, Department of anthropology, Leninskie Gory, 1, p.12, Moscow, 119991, Russia; 2) Lomonosov Moscow State University, Anuchin Research Institute and Museum of Anthropology, Mokhovaya st., 11, Moscow, 125009, Russia

Deryabin V.E.; Fedotova Tatiana K, Ph.D., D.Sc., ORCID ID: 0000-0001-7750-7924, e-mail: tatiana.fedotova@mail.ru; Gorbacheva Anna K., Ph.D., ORCID ID: 0000-0001-5201-7128, e-mail: angoria@yandex.ru

Abstract

Secular changes of Moscow infants’ body length and weight, head and chest circumferences are examined over a period of 80 years. Besides modern sample, investigated by the authors in 2009, literary data of 1930’s, 1940’s, 1950’s and 1960’s are used. The process of secular growth in length was particularly intensive from 1930’s to 1950’s. Differences for some age groups are equal to 1.2 sd. Later the tempo of growth was decreasing. The same intensity is typical for the process of secular weight changes through 1930’s–1950’s. However in the 21st century we do not see the continuation of this process. Secular decrease of body mass combined with increase for body length means the change in infants’ body shape, so-called “leptosomization”. Significant secular increase in growth is revealed at the end of the first year, which could be connected with the formation of stable sample structure.

Keywords

secular trend, body length and weight, chest and head circumferences, newborns and infants

Цит.: Deryabin V.E., Fedotova T.K., Gorbacheva A.K. Secular changes in body dimensions of Moscow infants // Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seria XXIII. Antropologia), 2010; 2/2010; с. 4-20