Mixed-Longitudinal Growth of Nomadic Turkana Pastoralists

Document Type

Article

Authors

Michael A. Little, State University of New York
Brooke J. Johnson Jr, State University of New York

Abstract

Height, weight, arm and leg circumferences, and skinfolds were measured twice on 160 nomadic Ngisonyoka Turkana pastoralists of northwest Kenya. Subjects’ ages ranged from less than one year to 23 years. Turkana nomads maintain an active life by moving frequently in search of good forage for their herds. They subsist largely on the products of their livestock (milk, blood, meat). Growth velocity curves for height, weight and sum of six skinfolds, and bivariate intercorrelations for several of the rate measures are presented. The tall and linear Turkana show relatively slow linear growth rates but grow longer than United States children and adolescents. Height velocity is closer to U.S. norms than weight velocity, and Turkana even show positive height gains in the face of negative weight gains. It is suggested that Turkana children and adolescents are able to grow under conditions of caloric deficit and are able to reach tall adult stature because of their extraordinarily high protein intakes.

Recommended Citation

Little, Michael A. and Johnson, Brooke J. Jr (1987) "Mixed-Longitudinal Growth of Nomadic Turkana Pastoralists," Human Biology: Vol. 59: Iss. 4, Article 12.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol59/iss4/12