Age at peak height velocity in Polish adolescents: Effect of socioeconomic factors.

Age at peak height velocity (APHV) is an indicator of maturity timing which is applicable to both sexes, and which is influenced by environmental factors. The objective of this study was to assess variation in APHV associated with several indicators of socioeconomic status (SES) in a longitudinal sample of Polish adolescents. The sample included 739 boys born in 1983 and followed annually from 12 to 16 years, and 597 girls born in 1985 and followed annually from 9 to 13 years. The height records were fitted with the SITAR model to estimate APHV. SES was estimated using principal component analysis of indicators of familial status based on parental education, family size, living conditions and household possessions. Statistical analyses included analysis of variance (one-way for general SES and three-way for parental education and family size) and Tukey post-hoc tests for unequal samples. General SES (p <.001) and family size (p < .05) significantly influenced APHV among boys, while only maternal education (p < .05) significantly influenced APHV among girls. Among youth from families of higher SES, as defined by the respective indicators, APHV was attained significantly earlier, on average, than in peers from families of lower SES. Overall, the results showed a sex-dependent effect of SES on APHV, and highlighted the influence of favorable socioeconomic conditions for optimal growth and maturation during adolescence.

Fine and gross motor skills in 7-10 years old Indian children exposed to a natural disaster during early development.

Fetal life and infancy are extremely sensitive to adverse environmental conditions. This study aimed to assess the effect of exposure to a natural disaster (cyclone Aila) in utero or during infancy on fine and gross motor functions in preadolescent Indian children. The study was conducted in West Bengal, India, and included approximately 700 children (7-10 years old) who were prenatally or postnatally exposed to cyclone Aila and a nonaffected group. Anthropometric measures included height, weight, and birthweight. Socioeconomic status was based on parental education, family size, and income. Motor functions were assessed using the short form of Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT-2). Statistical analyses included, for example, generalized linear models. There were no differences in motor functions relative to the timing of the exposure (trimester) during pregnancy. Compared to the controls, prenatal Aila exposure resulted in poorer performance in all BOT-2 subtests, except for fine motor precision, strength, and balance (the last in boys), while postnatal Aila exposure, compared to the controls, resulted in poorer performance in manual dexterity, bilateral coordination, balance (girls only), and speed and agility. Early life exposure to a natural disaster has long-term adverse effect on motor proficiency in children. By inference, the welfare of pregnant women and infants should be of particular concern for emergency and health services during an environmental cataclysm.

Trends in growth and developmental tempo in boys aged 7 to 18 years between 1966 and 2012 in Poland.

OBJECTIVES: To assess trends in growth in different developmental periods and trends in developmental tempo in Polish boys between 1966 and 2012. METHODS: Data on 34 828 boys aged 7 to 18 years were collected during Polish Anthropological Surveys conducted in 1966, 1978, 1988, and 2012. Biological parameters, related to onset of adolescent growth spurt (OGS) and peak height velocity (PHV), were derived from a Preece-Baines 1 model (PB1). Childhood (height at 7 years of age), pre-adolescent (height at OGS) and adolescent growth (adult height minus height at OGS) were identified. RESULTS: Positive secular trend between 1966 and 2012 in adult height accounted for, on average, 1.5 cm/decade, with varying intensity between the Surveys. Decline in both age at OGS and APHV between 1966 and 2012 (1.5 and 1.4 years, respectively) indicated an acceleration in developmental tempo, on average, by 0.3 year/decade. Increases in the contribution to the trend in adult height gained during growth in particular developmental periods between 1966 and 2012 were as followed-childhood: 0.6%, pre-adolescent growth: -3.1%, adolescent growth: 3.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Secular trend in developmental tempo and growth among boys reflects changes in living conditions and socio-political aspirations in Poland during nearly 50 years. Acceleration in tempo is already visible at age at OGS, whereas the trend in adult height occurs largely during adolescence, pointing to different regulation of developmental tempo and growth in body height. This finding emphasizes the importance of extending public health intervention into children's growth up until adolescence.

Secular trend and social variation in height of Polish schoolchildren between 1966 and 2012.

AIM: To assess secular trend and changes in social inequalities of children's height across nearly 50 years, when vast socio-political changes took place in Poland. METHODS: Data on schoolchildren aged 7-18 years were collected in 1966, 1978, 1988 and 2012 in Poland. Height was standardised for age using the LMS method. Socio-economic status (SES) was based on 4 factors: urbanisation level, mother's and father's education, and family size (number of children). Statistics included 2-way ANOVA with post hoc Tukey's test and effect size calculations. RESULTS: Positive secular trend in height was observed across all years. All analysed SES factors had significant effect on height which differed depending on SES category and year of Survey. Differences in height between extreme categories of SES factors decreased gradually, starting from 1978. However, only general SES in girls and urbanisation level in both sexes became insignificant in 2012. CONCLUSION: Improvement of living conditions across nearly 50 years was reflected in the secular trend in children's height. Despite this improvement, however, the biological effects of social inequalities, visible in differences in height, to some extent, are still present in Poland.

Nutritional and weight status of Indian mother-child dyads experienced by a natural disaster.

Natural disasters have detrimental effects not only on local infrastructure in an affected population but may also have an impact on the human biological condition, particularly during critical periods of life. This study aimed to assess the nutritional and weight status of women and their children who had experienced cyclone Aila prenatally and postnatally in comparison with a non-affected neighbouring group. The study sample involved N = 597 dyads consisting of mothers and their prepubertal children prenatally or postnatally (during infancy) exposed to a natural disaster and a control group from a neighbouring region (West Bengal, India). The analysed anthropometric indices involved body mass index (BMI) and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC). Moreover, several socioeconomic characteristics were collected (mother's and father's education, family size and family income). Analyses revealed that the group factor (Aila-exposed or non-exposed groups) had the highest impact on both children's and their mothers' BMI and MUAC (p < 0.001) in comparison with socioeconomic variables. Surprisingly, both mothers and their children revealed deteriorated nutritional and relative weight status several years after the occurrence of cyclone Aila, which is in opposition to the results obtained in developed countries, where prenatal maternal stress caused by the natural disaster led to the subsequent higher risk of excessive weight in affected children.

Differentiating effects of socio-economic factors on relative weight and nutritional status in Polish schoolchildren across intergenerational changes.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was an assessment of the effects of urbanisation level, family size and parental education on body mass index (BMI) and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) among Polish schoolchildren in cross-sectional surveys conducted between 1966 and 2012. DESIGN: The analysis involved schoolchildren measured in four Polish Anthropological Surveys (1966, 1978, 1988 and 2012). Socio-economic factors involved: urbanisation level (city, town and village), family size (one child, two children, three children, four or more children), and father's and mother's education (lower and higher education). SETTING: Regions in Poland - cities: Warsaw, Lodz and Wroclaw; towns: Bystrzyca Klodzka, Pinczow, Siemiatycze, Wolsztyn and their rural surroundings. PARTICIPANTS: A total sample consisted of 63 757 children (31 774 boys and 31 983 girls) aged 7-18 years. RESULTS: Between 1966 and 1988, both BMI and MUAC had significantly higher values in children from cities, in families with one child and with higher parental education (P < 0·05). However, MUAC revealed significant differences between particular socio-economic groups more frequently than BMI. In 2012, urbanisation level and parental education ceased to show a differentiating effect on both indicators, while family size remained a significant social factor for both measures (BMI: P < 0·05; MUAC: P < 0·01). CONCLUSIONS: Since MUAC reflected socio-economic differences more frequently than BMI, it could be a more sensitive and reliable anthropometric measure revealing the effects of socio-economic factors on children's nutritional status.

Sex-dependent effect of post-migration adaptation on height and relative lower leg length in Polish youth.

BACKGROUND: Growth in tibia length is considered to be particularly sensitive to environmental stress. AIM: To estimate the effect of parental migration status on the relative length of the tibia in their school-age children. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Data included a nationwide random sample of 17,155 schoolchildren, 7-18 years of age, examined between 1966 and 1969 in Poland who provided information on anthropometric measurements and demographic and social characteristics. Parental migration status was based on paternal migration history. After standardisation by LMS method, z-scores of relative tibia length and z-scores of height were used for analysis. Three-way ANOVA was used to evaluate the influence of migration on tibia length-to-height ratio. RESULTS: Sons of migrants have a significantly higher tibia length-to-height ratio compared to sons of non-migrants. Children of non-migrants were taller than children of migrants among boys in medium SES and among girls in high and low SES. Relative tibia length indicated significant effects of migration among boys in all age categories and in late adolescent girls: sons of migrants had a higher ratio and daughters of migrants had a lower tibia length-to-height ratio. CONCLUSION: It is possible that migration experiences of the parents may have influenced the growth of their offspring. The results emphasise the potential importance of research addressing the impact of different types of migration on growth of children.

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.

Secular trend and social variation in age at menarche among Polish schoolgirls before and after the political transformation.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the biological results of the political and economic transformations that took place in Poland between 1966 and 2012, based on an analysis of age at menarche, and to determine changes across social groups. METHODS: Data were collected in 1966, 1978, 1988, and 2012 in several districts of Poland. The study included 34,940 schoolgirls. Age at menarche was assessed with the use of status quo method. Definition of socioeconomic status was based on 4 factors: urbanization level, mother and father education, and family size. RESULTS: When the political and economic situation in Poland improved, a decrease in age at menarche was observed, whereas in years of crisis it increased. The same social differentiation in menarcheal age observed before the political transformation continued to be present in 2012. DISCUSSION: Socioeconomic changes were significantly associated with age at menarche. Social inequalities, reflected in menarcheal age, continue to be present in Poland.

Parental smoking during pregnancy and head shape and size in school children.

BACKGROUND: Maternal smoking during pregnancy has been recognised as a detrimental factor associated with adverse perinatal outcomes; however, to date there is a dearth of information on how it affects post-natal head growth and shape. AIM: To assess the relationship between parental smoking exposure during pregnancy and head dimensions and shape at age 7-10 years in boys and girls. METHODS: Body height and head length, breadth and circumference were measured. Birth weight and gestational age were obtained from the children's medical record books. Parental smoking habits during pregnancy and maternal educational attainment were obtained by a questionnaire. The relationship between exposure to parental smoking during pregnancy and head dimensions was evaluated using analysis of covariance implemented in the Generalized Linear Model, separately for each sex. RESULTS: Maternal and parental smoking during pregnancy significantly altered head shape in boys by affecting head length, while neither head breadth nor circumference were affected. This phenomenon was not observed in girls. CONCLUSION: Smoking-induced chronic hypoxic effects on the growing foetus, indicated that both active and passive smoking during pregnancy seems to have persistent negative effects on children, going beyond foetal development and pre-natal growth restrictions.

Central overweight and obesity in Polish schoolchildren aged 7-18 years: secular changes of waist circumference between 1966 and 2012.

We investigated secular trends of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in Polish schoolchildren examined through a period of almost 50 years. Data on height, weight and WC came from four cross-sectional surveys conducted in Poland between 1966 and 2012, covering 34,005 boys and 34,008 girls. Raw data of BMI and WC were standardized for age classes. Statistical analyses included the Kruskal-Willis test and Pearson Chi-square test. BMI and WC increased during the studied period; however, the growth was higher for WC (increase by 0.56 and 0.44 SD scores for BMI and 1.05 and 0.77 SD scores for WC in boys and girls, respectively). In boys, secular changes in BMI and WC were similar across childhood, early and late adolescence, while in girls they differed, indicating change in the type of adipose tissue distribution to a more central one in late adolescent girls. CONCLUSION: During 46 years, there was a tendency to a greater increase of the fraction of individuals with central obesity than the overall one. Since abdominal fat deposit is more connected with higher health risks than subcutaneous fat pattern, probably the number of metabolic complications in Polish children and adolescents will intensify in the future. What is Known: • BMI has significant limitations related to fat distribution, while WC is a measure of central adiposity. • Greater central fat deposition increases the risk of many diseases; therefore, WC may serve as a diagnostic measure for detecting central obesity in children at risk. What is New: • In girls, changes in BMI and WC indicate change in adipose tissue distribution to a more central one in late adolescence girls. • Both general and abdominal obesity in Polish children increased significantly from 1966 to 2012, with the tendency to a greater increase of the fraction of individuals with central obesity than the overall one, implying the number of metabolic complications in Polish children and adolescents may intensify in the future.

Stunted Growth. Proceedings of the 23rd Aschauer Soiree, Held at Aschauhof, Germany, November 7th 2015.

Twenty-four scientists met at Aschauhof, Altenhof, Germany, to discuss the associations between child growth and development, and nutrition, health, environment and psychology. Meta-analyses of body height, height variability and household inequality, in historic and modern growth studies published since 1794, highlighting the enormously flexible patterns of child and adolescent height and weight increments throughout history which do not only depend on genetics, prenatal development, nutrition, health, and economic circumstances, but reflect social interactions. A Quality of Life in Short Stature Youth Questionnaire was presented to cross-culturally assess health-related quality of life in children. Changes of child body proportions in recent history, the relation between height and longevity in historic Dutch samples and also measures of body height in skeletal remains belonged to the topics of this meeting. Bayesian approaches and Monte Carlo simulations offer new statistical tools for the study of human growth.

"Proceedings of the 22nd Aschauer Soiree on Growth and Health Screening", held at Altenhof, Germany, November 15th, 2014.

Twenty-five scientists met at Aschauhof, Altenhof, Germany, to discuss various aspects of the complex network of modern health screening, focusing on current scientific topics including medical sciences, human biology, and mathematics; on problems in implementing these results at the practical level of physicians, nurses, technicians, and engineers; and the level of administrative and political decisions. Whereas major scientific advancements have been published in the understanding and the bio-statistical evaluation of anthropometric screening parameters such as serial measurements of height and weight for preventive medical check-ups, BMI screening and surveillance in schools, etc., the implementation of these advancements into current health screening concepts, strategies and decision-making is poor. Fear of discrimination, misperception of body image, behavioural responses and political concerns, meanwhile dominate and negatively interfere with the implementation of recent scientific results into public health screening concepts and practices.

Relative Body Fat Distribution in Preadolescent Indian Children Exposed to a Natural Disaster during Early Development.

Fetal life and infancy are critical periods when adverse environmental conditions, such as natural disasters, may alter a developing organism, leading to life-lasting unfavorable health outcomes, such as central body fat distribution. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of the exposure to cyclone Aila in utero or during infancy on the relative subcutaneous adiposity distribution in preadolescent Indian children. The study included children prenatally (N = 336) or postnatally (during infancy, N = 212) exposed to Aila and a non-affected group (N = 284). Anthropometric indices involved, i.e., subscapular, suprailiac, triceps, and biceps skinfolds. The relative adiposity distribution (PC1) and socioeconomic status (SES) were assessed using principal component analysis. An analysis of covariance and Tukey's post hoc test for unequal samples were performed to assess the effect of exposure to a natural disaster on the PC1, controlling for age, sex, Z-BMI, and SES. Prenatally and postnatally Aila-exposed children revealed a significantly more central-oriented pattern of relative subcutaneous fat distribution compared to the controls (p < 0.05). Early-life exposure to a natural disaster was related to an adverse pattern of relative adipose tissue distribution in preadolescent children.

Prenatal and early postnatal exposure to a natural disaster and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder symptoms in Indian children.

The aim of this study was to assess the relation between early exposure to stressful events and symptoms of the Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children, based on the outcomes from a natural experiment. It was hypothesized that children pre- and postnatally exposed to cyclone Aila have increased ADHD symptoms compared to the control group, and the effect depends on the timing of the exposure. Indian children (8-11 years) prenatally (N = 336) and early postnatally (N = 216) exposed to cyclone Aila were compared to a non-exposed control peer group (N = 285). ADHD symptoms were assessed using the Conner's Teacher Rating Scale Revised. The main effect of exposure to the cyclone on the total ADHD symptoms' score, ADHD index, Hyperactivity and Oppositional symptoms was significant and independent to covariates: age and sex of children, gestational age and birth weight, maternal stress during the year before the study and the socioeconomic status of a family. The timing of exposure and sex of the children were found to be a significant moderator of the relation between early exposure to the natural disaster and ADHD symptoms. The prenatal, but also early postnatal exposure to stressful experiences such as a natural disaster, may disturb the development of cognitive functions and behavioural control, thus increasing the risk of ADHD in children.

Age at Menarche in Urban Girls Exposed to Lead in the Copper Basin, Poland.

Lead negatively affects human growth and development. In this research, we aimed to assess the effect of elevated blood lead level on age at menarche (AM), controlling for body mass index (BMI) and estimated fatness. The sample included 490 girls aged 7−16 examined in Polkowice town (Copper Basin, Poland) in 2008. Measurements included height, weight, skinfold thicknesses and estimated percentage of body fat. AM was assessed using the status quo method. Blood samples were taken for lead level assessment. Two groups were defined based on the median blood lead level for the total sample of children (3.7 µg/dL). Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between AM and independent variables. The results indicated that menarche in the higher blood lead level group was significantly later compared to the lower blood lead level group (p < 0.01). This relationship remained only marginally significant when BMI (p < 0.10), sum of skinfolds (p < 0.09) or percentage of fat (p < 0.08) were controlled. The results revealed that a lower blood lead level (3.7 µg/dL) than the currently acceptable threshold (5 µg/dL) is related to a later AM; however, this relationship is moderated by body fatness, which may decrease its significance.

Blood Lead Level and Handgrip Strength in Preadolescent Polish Schoolchildren.

Environmental pollutions, particularly toxic elements such as lead, are among the most significant factors affecting the growth and functional development of children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of blood lead levels on handgrip strength (HGS) in urban children resident in the Copper Basin of Lower Silesia, Poland, controlling for the effects of chronological age, body size and socioeconomic status. The study included 165 boys (9−11 years of age) and 79 girls (9−10 years of age) from Polkowice town. Anthropometric measurements involved height, body mass and grip strength of the left and right hands. Maternal education was a proxy for socioeconomic status. Based on the median value of blood lead level (3.10 µg/dL), the two groups-below and above/equal median value-were defined. Analysis of covariance revealed that age (all p < 0.001), sex (at least p < 0.01), BMI (all p < 0.001), and blood lead level (at least p < 0.05) had a significant effect on the three indicators of HGS (right hand, left hand, average), while the level of maternal education did not significantly affect HGS (p > 0.05). The results of this study indicate a potentially negative effect of elevated blood lead level on grip strength in preadolescent children, irrespective of sex.

Blood lead level and nutritional status indicators in preadolescent Polish schoolchildren.

BACKGROUND: Environmental pollutions with heavy metals may have toxic effects on human health and development. One of the most detrimental is lead exposure, which may disturb neurodevelopment and linear growth in children. However, data on the effect of lead exposure on nutritional and weight status in children are limited, thus this study aimed to assess the effect of blood lead (Pb) level on nutritional and weight status in preadolescent schoolchildren from the industrialized, mining region in southwestern Poland. METHODS: Our study sample involved N = 709 schoolchildren (402 boys and 307 girls) in the preadolescent developmental period (7-11 years of age for boys and 7-10 years of age for girls). Anthropometric measurements were used to assess nutritional and weight status: body mass index (BMI), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and skinfolds thicknesses (triceps, subscapular, abdominal and the sum of skinfolds). Blood Pb level was evaluated and divided into two groups: above (>3.7 µg/dL) and below median value (≤3.7 µg/dL). RESULTS: Analysis of covariance (with children's age controlled as a covariate) revealed that children with blood Pb level above median value had significantly lower values of BMI, MUAC and all skinfolds (at least p < 0.01). However, this effect was significant only in boys, whereas in girls differences were non-significant (p > 0.05). The highest effect size of blood Pb level was noted for skinfolds thicknesses (partial η2: 0.015 for the sum of skinfolds). CONCLUSIONS: Nutritional status in children with higher blood Pb level is significantly impaired in preadolescent boys, who appear to be more sensitive to this environmental factor. Our findings indicate a particular need for nutritional and environmental interventions among preadolescent children in regions with higher lead exposure.

Secular trends in adiposity within the context of changes in BMI across developmental periods among Polish schoolchildren-application of the Slaughter equation.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate secular changes in the body fatness, assessed using the Slaughter equation, in the context of changes in BMI in different developmental periods among Polish schoolchildren studied over nearly 50 years. METHODS: Data were collected during Polish Anthropological Surveys (1966, 1978, 1988, 2012). The total random sample consisted of 69,746 schoolchildren, aged 7-18. Three periods of development were identified: childhood, early adolescence, and late adolescence. Raw data of BMI were standardized for age classes. Based on the body fat percentage, calculated using Slaughter equation (involving triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness), fat mass (FM; kg), and then fat mass index (FMI = FM/height6; kg/m6) was assessed to enable comparison between body fatness and BMI. Statistical analyses included two-way ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey's tests. RESULTS: In boys, in terms of changes per decade, between 1966 and 2012 acceleration in Z-BMI and deceleration in FMI were found, irrespective of developmental period. Regarding girls, deceleration of trend was found in terms of both features, with different intensity, depending on developmental period and year of study. The pattern of changes in FMI depending on developmental period was, to some extent, similar for both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: Slaughter equation for abovementioned two skinfolds, as a method of body fatness assessment, might be a useful tool for research on boys across different developmental periods, but not on girls. Moreover, it should be used with caution when applied to secular changes in adiposity in both sexes, since the distribution of fat tissue varies across ontogenesis, but also over generations.