Secular Changes in the Stature and Weight of Mexican American School Children in Brownsville, Texas, Between 1928 and 1983

Document Type

Article

Authors

Robert M. Malina, University of Texas
Antonio N. Zavaleta, Texas Southmost College, Brownsville TX
Bertis B. Little, University of Texas Health Science Center

Abstract

Statures and weights of samples of three cohorts of Mexican American school children from Brownsville, Texas, were evaluated in a secular perspective. The children were 7 through 16 years of age and were measured in 1928, 1972 and 1983. Secular changes were apparent for stat­ure and weight in both sexes, and were somewhat greater for weight than stature. However, stature differences in youth 14-16 years of age were quite small. It appears that the secular gains in stature experienced by boys be­tween 1972 and 1983 were almost as large as those between 1928 and 1972, and that boys experienced greater secular gains in stature than girls. Secular gains in body weight were greater in boys prior to 10 years of age, but greater in girls during the pubertal years. When stature and weight were expressed as the body mass index (weight/stature2), both sexes experienced a secular increase in this indicator of fatness, and the increase was greater in girls. Estimated rates of secular change varied with the time interval compared, i.e., 1928-1972 or 1928-1983. Nevertheless, the estimated rates of secular change observed in Mexican American school children generally did not approximate rates reported for European, Japanese and American White and Black children.

Recommended Citation

Malina, Robert M.; Zavaleta, Antonio N.; and Little, Bertis B. (1987) "Secular Changes in the Stature and Weight of Mexican American School Children in Brownsville, Texas, Between 1928 and 1983," Human Biology: Vol. 59: Iss. 3, Article 11.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol59/iss3/11