THE STUDY OF ANTHROPOMETRY AND SOMATOTYPE AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN IN ZARIA, NIGERIA.
THE STUDY OF ANTHROPOMETRY AND SOMATOTYPE AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN IN ZARIA, NIGERIA.
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Date
2009-02
Authors
ABDULAZEEZ, OYEWALE,
ABDULWAHEED
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
Human populations consist of individuals who differ widely in body shape
and size. Anthropometry has been employed by anthropologist and public
health professionals for defining the normal growth and health status of
populations. The development of anthropometry added new dimensions to
the study of morphology and full appreciation of the utility of anthropometry
requires an understanding of the human body composition. The somatotype
and its physiological correlates represent a first descriptive step in
recognizing genetic pleiotropism and polygenic interaction. This study
attempted to compare the anthropometry and somatotype in Nigerian
children of different age, sex and ethnic groups. The study sample comprised
of 1,235 apparent healthy children within the ages of 9 – 18 years (male, n =
626 and female, n = 609). Anthropometric measurements considered
includes body weight, stretch stature (height), biepicondylar breadth of
humerus and femur, upper arm and calf circumferences, triceps; subscapular;
supraspinale; and medial calf skinfold thicknesses.
The results obtained show higher mean values in male than female in most
of the parameters measured except the skinfold thickness which shows
higher mean values for female. It also revealed that females have larger
values for weight and height at pubertal stage of development than males.
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Thereafter, the males then overtook the females in values for the respective
anthropometric variables and maintain this lead up to adolescent. The BMI
are higher in female (at pubertal and adolescence stage), this is so because
there may be an increase in the weight of females due to hormonal influence
during puberty. The results also shows among others the developmental
stages that there is increase in the parameters as age increases and all are
statistically significant. The differences in variables investigated among
various ethnic groups were noted in the Yoruba and Ibo group which had
relatively higher values, compared to Hausa. The somatotype of Nigerian
children shows more value towards ectomorphy. All the ethnic groups have
ectomorphic type of body physique with less mesomorphic. The
anthropometric somatotypes of the Nigerian ethnic groups and
socioeconomic factors of parental educational level show ectomorphic
component being dominant in all age groups and sex, with few changes from
ectomorphic to mesomorphic component.
Description
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN ANATOMY, AHMADU BELLO
UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA.
Keywords
STUDY,, ANTHROPOMETRY,, SOMATOTYPE, SCHOOL,, CHILDREN,, ZARIA,, NIGERIA.