Secular trends and regional pattern in body height of Austrian conscripts born between 1961 and 2002

Sylvia Kirchengast, Thomas Waldhör (Corresponding author), Lin Yang, Alfred Juan

Publications: Contribution to journalArticlePeer Reviewed

Abstract

The human growth process is influenced not only by genetic factors but also by environmental factors. Therefore, regional differences in mean body heights may exist within a population or a state. In the present study, we described and evaluated the regional trends in mean body heights in the nine Austrian provinces over a period spanning more than four decades. Body height data of 1734569 male conscripts born in Austria with Austrian citizenship between 1961 and 2002 were anonymized and analyzed. From 1961 to 2002 birth cohorts, an overall increase in the mean body height of Austrian recruits was observed, although regional differences were evident. Regions with shorter body heights in the 1961–1963 birth cohorts showed a particularly pronounced increase in mean body heights. Meanwhile, the course of body height growth in the capital city, Vienna, was striking, where the highest body heights were documented for the 1961–1963 birth cohorts. In Vienna, mean body heights continued to decline until the 1984 birth cohort and increased again from the 1988 birth cohorts. In addition to economic factors, increased stress factors in an urban environment and a form of urban penalty are discussed as causes.

Original languageEnglish
Article number101371
JournalEconomics and Human Biology
Volume53
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2024

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

  • 106018 Human biology
  • 303007 Epidemiology

Keywords

  • Austria
  • Body height
  • Conscripts
  • Regional differences
  • Secular trend
  • Urban penalty

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