Caesarean birth and adiposity parameters in 6- to 8-year-old urban Maya children from two cities of Yucatan, Mexico.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between birth mode and fat mass index (FMI = fat mass [kg]/height [m]2 ), and z-score values of waist circumference (WCZ) and sum of triceps and subscapular skinfolds (SumSkfZ) in a sample of 256 6- to 8-year-old urban Maya children from the cities of Merida and Motul in Yucatan, Mexico. METHODS: From September 2011 to January 2014, we measured height, weight, waist circumference and skinfolds in children, and height and weight in their mothers. Body composition was estimated in both generations through bioelectrical impedance analysis. Data on children's birth mode and birth weight were obtained from birth certificates. A pre-validated questionnaire for mothers was used regarding household living conditions. Multiple regression models were used to analyze the association between birth mode and adiposity parameters, adjusting for the effect of place of residence, household crowding index, children's birth weight, and maternal fat mass. Separate regression models were run for boys and girls. RESULTS: Caesarean-born children comprised 43% of the entire sample. Caesarean section (CS) was found to be associated with higher values of body adiposity in girls, but not in boys. Specifically, our models predicted that girls born by CS had an increased value of 0.817 kg/m2 in FMI and showed higher SDs values for WCZ and SumskfZ (0.29 and 0.32 SD, respectively) than girls who were delivered vaginally. DISCUSSION: Our results support the hypothesis that CS is associated with increased levels of adiposity in childhood, but only in girls.

Meeting Report: The Role of Beliefs and Perception on Body Size. Proceedings of the 26th Aschauer Soiree, Held at Aschauhof, Altenhof, Germany, May 26th, 2018.

Thirty-one scientists met at Aschauhof, Germany to discuss the role of beliefs and self-perception on body size. In view of apparent growth stimulatory effects of dominance within the social group that is observed in social mammals, they discussed various aspects of competitive growth strategies and growth adjustments. Presentations included new data from Indonesia, a cohort-based prospective study from Merida, Yucatan, and evidence from recent meta-analyses and patterns of growth in the socially deprived. The effects of stress experienced during pregnancy and adverse childhood events were discussed, as well as obesity in school children, with emphasis on problems when using z-scores in extremely obese children. Aspects were presented on body image in African-American women, and body perception and the disappointments of menopause in view of feelings of attractiveness in different populations. Secular trends in height were presented, including short views on so called 'racial types' vs bio-plasticity, and historic data on early-life nutritional status and later-life socioeconomic outcomes during the Dutch potato famine. New tools for describing body proportions in patients with variable degrees of phocomelia were presented along with electronic growth charts. Bio-statisticians discussed the influence of randomness, community and network structures, and presented novel tools and methods for analyzing social network data.

All-age relationship between arm span and height in different ethnic groups.

The objective of the present study was to establish multiethnic, all-age prediction equations for estimating stature from arm span in males and females. The arm span/height ratio (ASHR) from 13 947 subjects (40.9% females), aged 5-99 years, from nine centres (in China, Europe, Ghana, India and Iran) was used to predict ASHR as a function of age using the lambda, mu and sigma method. Z-scores for forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC in 1503 patients were calculated using measured height and height calculated from arm span and age. ASHR varied nonlinearly with age, was higher in males than in females and differed significantly between the nine sites. The data clustered into four groups: Asia, Europe, Ghana and Iran. Average predicted FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC using measured or predicted height did not differ, with standard deviations of 4.6% for FEV1, 5.0% for FVC and 0.3% for FEV1/FVC. The percentages of disparate findings for a low FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC in patients, calculated using measured or predicted height, were 4.2%, 3.2% and 0.4%, respectively; for a restrictive pattern, there were 1.0% disparate findings. Group- and sex-specific equations for estimating height from arm span and age to derive predicted values for spirometry are clinically useful.

Height, weight and body mass index by age and sex in children aged 4 to 6 years in Merida, Mexico, as compared to international references after normalization with LMS.

A cross-sectional study was done in 2006-2007 of 458 children (218 boys and 240 girls) aged 4 to 6 years (range 4.00 to 6.99 years) in Merida, Mexico. Height (cm) and body weight (kg) were measured to estimate growth; body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) was calculated to evaluate nutritional status. Results showed significant sex difference with respect to height, weight, and BMI. Increment of height and weight with age was observed. However, age difference in BMI was not consis- tent. Nutritional status was evaluated using International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) classification and BMI cut-off values showed notable rates of overweight (boys 14.41% and girls 17.75%) and obesity (boys 12.43% and girls 7.21%). Anthropometric data of height, weight, and BMI were normalized using LMS methodology and were compared with World Health Organization (WHO) growth reference data. Again, increment of height and weight with age was observed although those were lower in the present study for boys and girls than the corresponding WHO growth reference data. In contrast, mean BMI by age in the present results exceeded WHO reference data, especially above the 85th percentile. Assessment of nutritional status with reference to IOTF and WHO revealed similar trends.

Association Between Low-Grade Inflammation and Hyperuricemia in Adults With Metabolic Syndrome in Yucatán, México.

BACKGROUND: Hyperuricemia (HUA) is commonly diagnosed among individuals with obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D) and metabolic syndrome (MetS). Nevertheless, the association of HUA in individuals with MetS among the Mexican population is mostly unexplored. Low-grade inflammation has been postulated to have a key role in the pathogenesis of MetS and has been linked to insulin resistance (IR). However, it is uncertain whether HUA is associated with elevated levels of interleukin-6 and -10 (IL-6 and IL-10, respectively) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in individuals with MetS. Our main goal was to assess the values of inflammatory markers in a Mexican adult population without and with MetS and HUA. METHODS: A cross-sectional study including 250 adults (77 men, 173 women) was carried out at a tertiary hospital in Mérida, Yucatán, México. Serum levels of IL-6, IL-10 and hs-CRP were evaluated by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The association between different conditions and inflammatory markers was analyzed using the point-biserial correlation (rpb) among patients. RESULTS: IR was positively associated with higher levels of serum uric acid (SUA). Serum levels of IL-6 and hs-CRP were found to be significantly associated with MetS, HUA and combined clinical conditions of MetS and HUA in women. Inter-relationships were stronger in women than in men. CONCLUSIONS: An association between levels of IL-6 and hs-CRP in women with MetS and HUA was found. Therefore, screening and monitoring of SUA and these markers in patients with MetS may be an alternative for treatment of these metabolic conditions.

Finger dermatoglyphic variations in Rengma Nagas of Nagaland India.

The Rengma Nagas are one of the major Mongoloid tribal populations in the North-Eastern state of Nagaland in India. Population variation and sexual dimorphism in respect of finger dermatoglyphic characteristics in 207 adult individuals (104 males and 103 females) are reported in this present context. Frequency distribution of finger pattern types in different digits (both left and right sides combined) showed that whorls were the most prevalent patterns among both males (52.19%) and females (55.69%), followed by loops (47.70% in males and 42.81% in females). Significant sex differences in Dankmeijer Index (t = 1.47; p < 0.0001) and finger wise variations of total finger ridge count (TFRC) and absolute finger ridge count (AFRC) in both the sexes were recorded. However, in cases of the frequencies of finger dermatoglyphic pattern types, Pattern Intensity Index in fingers, TFRC and AFRC no significant sex differences were observed.

Body Mass Index in Mother and Child Dyads and its Association With Household Size and Parents' Education in 2 Urban Settings of Yucatan, Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Overweight/obesity (OW/OB) coexists in mother-child dyads. However, a dearth of evidence on the factors associated with this phenomenon calls for research. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association of sociodemographic factors with OW/OB in a sample of 260 Maya mother-child dyads from Yucatan, Mexico. METHODS: During 2011 to 2014, we measured height and weight in children and their mothers and calculated their body mass index (BMI). The OW/OB cutoff points were defined, for mothers, as having a BMI >25 kg/m2 and, for children, as having a BMI-for-age >2 standard deviation of the World Health Organization references. Mother-child dyads were grouped according to their BMI status: (1) normal weight mother and child, (2) normal weight mother and OW/OB child, (3) OW/OB mother and normal weight child, and (4) OW/OB mother and child. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to analyze the interrelationships among BMI status in mother-child dyads, household size, and parental education. RESULTS: Overweight/obesity coexisted in 40% of dyads. Compared to normal weight dyads (1), each unit increase in household size and in years of maternal education decreased the risks of the coexistence of OW/OB in mother-child dyads (odds ratio [OR] = 0.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.55-0.94, P = .015; OR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.52-0.94, P = .019, respectively). Conversely, each year increase in paternal education increased the risk for OW/OB in dyads (OR = 1.47, 95% CI 1.08-1.99, P = .015). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that household size and parental education contribute to shape BMI-based nutritional status in this sample of mother-child dyads.

Undernutrition among adult Dhimals of Naxalbari, West Bengal: comparison with other tribes of eastern India.

BACKGROUND: The tribes of India comprise approximately 8% of the total population of the country, which probably has the largest number of tribal communities in the world. In general, the tribal populations are among the most underprivileged and undernourished people in India. OBJECTIVES: To determine the anthropometric characteristics and prevalence of undernutrition, based on body mass index (BMI), of adult Dhimals, a tribal population of Naxalbari, West Bengal, India, and to compare these results with those from four other tribes of Eastern India: the Bathudis, Kora Mudis, Santals, and Savars. METHODS: A total of 305 adult (18 years or older) Dhimals (159 men and 146 women) from three villages (Maniram, Hatighisa, and Buraganj) in the Mallabari area of Naxalbari were studied. These villages are located 5 km from Siliguri town, which is approximately 580 km from Kolkata, the provincial capital of West Bengal. Anthropometric measurements included height and weight. BMI was calculated by the standard equation. Undernutrition was evaluated according to World Health Organization (WHO) cutoff points. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of undernutrition (BMI < 18.5) was very high (36.4%). The prevalence was significantly higher in women than in men (46.4% vs. 27.0%; chi2 = 12.54; p < .001; odds ratio, 2.35). According to the WHO criterion, the prevalence of undernutrition was high and the situation was serious in men. Among women, the prevalence of undernutrition was very high and the situation was critical. However, in general, compared with other tribal people of eastern India except the Santals, adult Dhimals had better anthropometric and nutritional profiles. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that although the anthropometric and nutritional profiles of adult Dhimals are better than those of some of the other tribal populations of eastern India, immediate appropriate nutritional intervention programs are needed for implementation among this ethnic group.

Age-sex and diurnal variation of blood pressure in different nutritional states among the adult Telegas of Kharagpur in West Bengal, India.

An anthropological investigation among the endogamous Telega population (106 adult individuals including 51 males and 55 females) in the district of Paschim Medinipur of West Bengal, India shows wide range of age-sex as well as diurnal variation of mean blood pressure (MBP) with reference to different nutritional status. Distribution of MBP shows distinct bias for sexes separately on different occasions and in association with age and other physiological conditions like menopause in females. Records of increase of blood pressure from morning to evening also indicate clear diurnal change in both male as well as in the female samples with some variations when compared between the two sexes. Results also help us to understand and to record the variation of blood pressure as a physiometric trait in the population under study. Data indicate that nearly 30% of males and more than 30% of females are living at the level of undernutrition. Nutritional status is measured by anthropometric measurements, e.g. height, weight, mid arm circumference (MUAC) and further calculation of body mass index (BMI). Distribution of MBP at different BMI and MUAC levels and Pearson correlation and regression analysis--all suggest that age, BMI and MUAC have significant impacts on BMI with some sex-related variations.

Preece-Baines Model 1 to Estimate Height and Knee Height Growth in Boys and Girls From Merida, Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Height and body segments in children have differential pubertal growth characteristics. Lower leg length is a sensitive indicator of child's nutritional status. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to estimate differential timing and tempo of height and knee height (KH) growth in 9- to 17-year-old boys (n = 475) and girls (n = 500) from Merida, Mexico. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the Preece-Baines growth curves-model 1 (PB 1) was fitted to the anthropometric data for height and KH. RESULTS: Based on the PB 1 model, KH had earlier age at maximum increment than height in boys (height = 12.37 years, KH = 11.54 years) and girls (height = 11.01 years, KH = 10.93 years). Peak velocity of these 2 dimensions was different in both sexes (boys: height = 7.11 cm/yr, KH = 2.25 cm/yr; girls: height = 5.14 cm/yr, KH = 1.45 cm/yr). Differences ( P <.001) by sex were also observed for the estimated size at peak velocity and final size of height and KH. CONCLUSIONS: When compared to height, KH was shown to have earlier adolescent growth spurt and a smaller difference between final size and the size at maximum (peak) velocity indicating an earlier age for achieving adult size. Overall, the studied boys and girls had short estimated final size, an earlier age at maximum increment, and a lower peak velocity in height than urban Guatemalan peers, the only regional reference available.

Anthropometric and body frame size characteristics in relation to body mass index and percentage body fat among adult Bengalee male brick-kiln workers from Murshidabad, West Bengal, India.

SUMMARY: Anthropometric and body frame size parameters (ABFSP) are used to interpret body mass and to evaluate nutritional status. Objective of the present study was to investigate the interrelationships between ABFSP, percentage body fat (BF%) and body mass index (BMI). The study was carried out in a sample of 141 adult Bengalee healthy male brick-kiln workers (age range 18-59 years) from Murshidabad district in West Bengal, India. Body weight was recorded; anthropometric measurements included height, breadth (elbow, wrist, hand, foot, ankle, knee), circumferences (mid-upper arm, chest, waist, hip, thigh, medial calf) and skinfolds (biceps, triceps, subscapular, suprailiac). Derived ABFSP included sum of breadth and circumferences, frame index, BMI, BF%, sum of skinfolds, ratio of central and peripheral skinfolds, arm muscle area, arm muscle circumference, arm fat area and brachial adipo-muscular ratio. Correlations (age-controlled) between ABFSP, BMI and BF% were highly significant (p < 0.001). The ABFSP and BF% varied significantly (p < 0.0001) in relation to BMI-based nutritional status (BNS). Multinomial logistic regression analysis (age-adjusted) showed ABFSP had statistically significant (p < 0.01) relationships with BNS. There were strong interrelationships between ABFSP, BMI and BF% independent of age. The ABFSP in individuals with normal BMI, suffering from undernutrition (low BMI) or overweight are different.

Nutritional status of adult men from the oraon tribe in ranchi district of jharkhand, India.

A cross-sectional study was undertaken to investigate anthropometric characteristics and nutritional status among adult male (18 years and above) Oraons (n = 290), a tribe in the Ranchi District of the state of Jharkhand in India. The anthropometric characteristics (stature, body weight and mid upper arm circumference or MUAC) were categorised into three age-groups (18-39 years, 40-59 years and 60 years and above). This particular investigation recorded a low (18.48Kg/m2) body mass index (BMI) and a high frequency of under-nutrition (53.10% chronic energy deficiency or CED) among the adult Oraons. BMI and CED of the adult Oraons were also compared with some populations of eastern India. It is noted that 38.28% of adult Oraons suffer from under-nutrition when the nutritional status of their population is evaluated by the standard cut-off points of MUAC. Pearson correlations of BMI and MUAC with age exhibited significantly (p< 0.001) negative correlations among the Oraons. Correlations between BMI and MUAC in their population showed a high significance (p< 0.0001). Significant age-related variations (tested by one-way ANOVA) in anthropometric parameters were observed in the Oroan population. Linear regression analyses revealed more or less significant negative impacts of age on BMI and MUAC in the population.

Age-sex variation and association of 0AB blood groups with haemoglobin level among the adult Dhimals at Naxalbari in West Bengal, India.

The Dhimals at Naxalbari of the Darjeeling district in West Bengal belong to the Indo-Mongoloid ethnic stock. Dhimal is a comparatively less known small community in North Bengal. The mean age (males = 35.93 +/- 1.14 years and females = 32.59 +/- 1.06 years) of both sexes represent the standard adult population (males = 151 and females = 171). The results show that the haemoglobin levels in both the sexes (males: 9.69 gm/dl and females: 8.82 gm/dl) among the adult Dhimals are very low. This is true in all age groups. The females are found to be more anaemic than males in all ages. Significant sex differences (p < 0.001) in this context were recorded in all ages except among the population of 60 years and above. Young adult females of reproductive ages group (20-39 years) are observed to have a less haemoglobin level (8.86 +/- 0.18 gm/dl) compared to a higher level of haemoglobin (9.29 +/- 0.30 gm/dl) found among the females of over 40 years of age. 50.88 % of the females having a mean haemoglobin level of 7.09 +/- 0.08 gm/dl and 67.56% of the males with a mean haemoglobin level of 10.75 +/- 0.08 gm/dl indicate that larger proportions of the adult Dhimal population are suffering from severe anaemia. Repeated malarial parasite infection is the major reason behind this situation. 49.70% of the total sample of both the sexes is recorded to have B blood group. 47.47% of the male and 53.45% of the female sample with blood group B along with moderately higher proportions of the AB blood group (21.78% in males and 20.22% in females) over comparatively much less frequent A and 0 blood groups in both the sexes indicate a high prevalence of B gene in the Dhimal population. The association of higher mean haemoglobin levels (10.21 +/- 0.14 gm/dl for males and 9.54 +/- 0.14 gm/dl for females) among the individuals of both the sexes with B blood groups compared to lower haemoglobin levels with other blood groups especially 0 and A indicate a selection of the B gene in the Dhimal population for survival.

Trends of consanguineous marriages in a Sunni Muslim population of West Bengal, India.

The Muslim population of the Chaltaberia village in the district of South 24 Parganas in West Bengal is divided into several wards (paras) inhabited by people of specific surnames. The frequency of endogamous marriages within surnames is greater than randomly expected ones. An incomplete reproductive isolation is observed among the five dominant surnames. Consanguineous marriages occur more often outside the village than inside. Leaving out marriages between long distances, a small median distance of 6.36 km is recorded. The neighborhood area works up to be 552.2 km2, which is rather small. There is an underlying process of breeding isolation by distance. A generation length of 21 years has been used for examining the temporal change in consanguineous marriages and inbreeding, which generally appears to increase. There is a general trend of decline in consanguineous marriages towards the southern part of West Bengal and eastern part of Assam among the Bengalee Muslims. The frequency of consanguineous marriages is 7.3% out of all marriages (N=1153) that have taken place in six generations in the population. The first cousin marriage is nearly 50% of all marriages. Patrilineal marriages are common in marriages between second and third cousins. An increase of consanguineous marriages in the younger generation was observed, but the total frequency agrees with a general trend of a decline in the frequency of consanguineous marriages among the Muslims in this part of India.

Dinamometria de manos en estudiantes de Merida, México / Hands dynamometry in students from Merida, Mexico

In a sample of 676 students (316 boys and 360 girls) aged 10 to 18 years in Merida, Mexico, hand-held dynamometry was performed to develop a regression model that permitted to estimate the strength of each hand by sex from the upper arm muscle area and age. The right hand was significantly stronger than the left in both men (1.43 kg, t=8.748, p<0.001) and women (1.07 kg, t=9.347, p<0.001). Among the subjects, 94.1% reported being right-handed and the rest left-handed; 71.4% of the right-handed subjects and 60.0% of the left-handed subjects had stronger right hand. However, Chi-squared test showed no significant differences in these distributions (p=0.125). Altogether 70.7% of the sample had stronger right hand than left, and the rest had the opposite pattern of stronger left hand than right and Student's t-tests exhibited significant bilateral difference (p<0.0001) of dynamometric grip strength in either section.

En una muestra de 676 estudiantes (316 hombres y 360 mujeres) de 10 a 18 años de edad en Mérida, México, se realizó dinamometría para obtener un modelo de regresión que permitiera estimar la fuerza de cada mano según sexo a partir del área muscular braquial y edad. La mano derecha fue significativamente más fuerte que la izquierda tanto en hombres (1.43 kg; t=8.748, p<0.001) como en mujeres (1.07 kg; t=9.347, p<0.001). El 94.1% mencionó ser diestro y el resto zurdo; 71.4% de los diestros y 60.0% de los zurdos tuvieron la mano derecha más fuerte, el Chi cuadrado no mostró diferencias significativas en estas distribuciones (p=0.125). El 70.7% tuvo la mano derecha más fuerte que la izquierda, y el resto la izquierda más fuerte que la derecha. Las pruebas t (t=29.076 y t=-14.808 respectivamente) mostraron diferencias bilaterales significativas (p<0.0001) de la dinamometría de la fuerza de apretón.