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STUDIES ON THE BODY SIZE OF NORTH AMERICAN CHILDREN OF MEXICAN ANCESTRY

1952; Wiley; Volume: 23; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.1467-8624.1952.tb05723.x

1467-8624

Howard V. Meredith, Marcus S. Goldstein,

Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet

The North American melting pot simmers slowly, so slowly that for many years to come it will contain a number of recognizable morphologic concentrations. These concentrations are described appropriately as smaller composites within the aggregate, i.e., as sizable clusters resulting from differential combinations of such variables as genetic heritage, geographic habitation, and those phases of social heritage which relate to health care, activity regimen, and dietary consumption. Students of child development have given considerable attention to the physical growth of certain subgroups (e.g., North American children of northwvest European descent) and only meager attention to the physical growth of other subgroups (e.g., North American children of Chinese, Indian, and Mexican lineage). This fact has been revealed with particular force in publications that have colligated investigations for special age periods or growth topics (Io, 12, 14, 22, 13, II). The present paper pertains to the body size of that subdivision of the North American child identified as Mexican. Ethnically, a typical Mexican child is a descendant from sixteenth century admixture of southwest European progenitors and American Indian progenitors, with the latter predominating. There are, however, very considerable differences in the amounts of Indian and white blood in the Mexican population (19, p. 3).1 The studies brought together are partly original and partly those of other investigators. They represent groups of Mexican children residing in central and northern Mexico and in the southwestern region of the United States. Among the aspects of body size considered are weight, stature, stem length, arm span, and 4 dimensions each of the head and neck, the trunk, and the extremities. The age period covered begins at birth and extends to 17 years.