Development of the Abdominal and Gluteal (Waist and Hip) Circumferences up to 20 Years of Age

Overview

Measurement of two basic nutritional and anthropological parameters - abdominal (waist) and gluteal (hip)circumferences during the growth period was implemented by the method of Martin (Martin-Saller 1957) andKnussmann (1988) [M 62(1); M 64(1)]. 49 623 Czech and Slovak probands of both sexes 1.5 to 20 years old wereexamined. The differences in mean values of abdominal and gluteal (waist and hip) circumferences between sexesand nationalities were evaluated by the two-sample t-test.Mean gluteal circumference values during the investigated period of ontogenesis are higher than the waistcircumference. The abdominal circumference is greater in boys and men than in girls and women the whole periodduring. The gluteal circumference is temporarily greater in girls in the period of prepuberty and puberty. Theintersexual differences and the differences between Czech and Slovak populations are statistically significant atleast at the level p = 0.05 in both parameters in the majority of age categories. In the time period up to 15 years ofage 60 to 90 % of the whole increase of both circumferences was reached.Percentile networks of both circumferences were constructed for males and females and Czech and Slovaknationalities.

Key words:
growth, abdominal circumference (waist), gluteal circumference (hip), Czech and Slovak popula-tions, 1.5 - 20 years, percentile networks