Secular Change in the Growth and Sexual Maturation of Hungarian Children

The purpose of this paper is to provide a summary of contributions on secular change in the growth pattern of Hungarian children and youth over the past 100 years. We note how some absolute body dimensions have changed and what modifications are discernible in the rate of growth and comment on the effects these had on body shape. We also touch upon the inferences about the timing of the secondary sex characteristics and the age at menarche and oigarche. Under the assumption that growth and maturation patterns depend on the environment, we analyse and compare the growth data of subpopulations living under diverse socio-economic conditions. We also attempt to outline divergent trends in their physical development.