Sex differences in height and sitting height in the Belgian population |
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Authors: | S K Koziel R C Hauspie C Susanne |
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Institution: | (1) Institute of Anthropology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland;(2) National Fund for Scientific Research (Belgium) Laboratory of Anthropogenetics, Free University Brussels, Brussels, Belgium |
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Abstract: | Sex differences in growth were studied in a longitudinal study of 39 boys and 31 girls for sitting height. Individual growth
patterns were determined by means of Preece Baines model 1. The results showed no significant bias in the fits of height and
sitting height in boys and girls. Girls fits were significantly better than those of the boys for both height and sitting
height. Univariate analysis by means of Mann-Whitney test showed significant sex differences for all function and biological
parameters of height and sitting height excepted for s1 parameter (the rate constant controlling pubertal velocity). Linear discriminant analysis revealed that the strongest sex
differences for the timing and size parameters at adolescent. Peak velocity at adolescent was slightly less discriminating
between the two sexes and velocity at take-off showed the least sex difference. These trends were similar for height and sitting
height. Decomposition of sex differences in adult size showed that the major contributor to adult the sex differences is the
effect of the later onset of the adolescent growth spurt in boys than in girls. Sex differences in adult phenotypes of height
and sitting height are to a slightly lesser extent due to the greater adolescent gain in boys while prepubertal sex differences
are almost negligible. |
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Keywords: | height sitting height sexual dimorphism |
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