Somatic comparisons of urban and rural Russian boys, ages 6, 9, and 15 years, living in St. Petersburg and surrounding areas.

Somatic data were collected during September 1991 on 280 males, ages 6, 9, and 15 years, residing in urban St. Petersburg, Russia, and in rural regions surrounding the city. Comparisons are made between urban and rural groups for measures of body size and form, skinfold thicknesses, body mass index (BMI), and estimated arm muscle area (ARM). The data were analyzed in 2 (urban-rural) × 3 (age) analyses of variance, with an alpha level of P < 0.05. Age differences were evident for all measurements. A significant main effect for urban-rural was found for stature, lower limb height, and calf girth; differences approached significance (P < 0.07) for body weight and sitting height. Urban children were larger than rural children in stature, sitting height, lower limb height, calf girth, and body weight. The interaction was nonsignificant. Urban and rural boys did not differ on measures of body form. Similar means were obtained for the sum of skinfolds, the BMI, and ARM in urban and rural boys. Compared with data collected more than a century ago, present-day 15-year-olds are 22 cm taller. It has often been suggested that living in an urban environment provides greater access to the amenities of life than living in a rural area. Although these amenities are difficult to observe differences do exist and the secular trend continues. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Arm-span, height, and age in black and white women.

This paper presents the results of an anthropometric study of 293 Black and 298 White females, ages 35-89 years, who were healthy, non-institutionalized residents of North Carolina. All subjects were measured for arm-span and height. Correlations of the two measures were obtained for each race independently. Additionally, age as a factor in arm-span and height correlation for the two races was examined. Correlation of arm-span and height for Black subjects was 0.852 and for White subjects was 0.903. Age and height correlation for White women was -0.237 and for Black women was -0.114. Age and arm-span correlation for White women was -0.167 and for Black women was -0.106. Separate equations for estimation of height based on age and arm-span were developed for women of the two races: height of White women (cm) = 29.58-(0.04 x age) + (0.81 x arm-span); height of Black women (cm) = 37.72-(0.01 x age) + (0.73 x arm-span).

Correlation of arm-span and height in young women of two races.

This paper presents the results of an anthropometric study of 55 black and 74 white females, ages 23-28 years, employed by a state agency in North Carolina. All subjects were measured for height and arm-span. Correlations of the two measures were obtained for each race independently, and differences between the two races were examined. Correlation of arm-span and height for black subjects was 0.776 and for white subjects was 0.894. Analysis of covariance revealed significant (P less than or equal to 0.001) interaction between race and the relationship between arm-span and height.

Lipid, kilocalorie, and selected mineral intakes of rural black schoolgirls.

Dietary intakes of nutrients implicated in cardiovascular disease were studied in 143 Black females, age 9 years. Dietary recall interviews were conducted and data compared with recommendations of several authoritative groups. A majority of subjects reported intakes: exceeding recommendations for total fat, saturated fat, and sodium; within recommendations for potassium and cholesterol; and below recommendations for kilocalories.

Body size, body form, and nutritional intake of Black girls age 9 years living in rural and urban regions of eastern North Carolina.

Anthropometric and dietary data were obtained on 78 rural and 66 urban Black girls age 9 years residing in eastern North Carolina. Direct measures were taken of standing height, sitting height, upper limb length, arm girth, calf girth, and body weight. Body form indices were derived for arm girth in percentage of upper limb length, calf girth in percentage of lower limb length, and lower limb length in percentage of sitting height. Intakes of protein and calories were estimated from 24-hour dietary recall protocols. Rural girls, on average, had shorter upper and lower limbs than urban girls. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein intake was met by almost all subjects. More than 60% of both rural and urban girls were below the RDA for calorie intake, and about 40% below the RDA for vitamin A intake.