@article{HermanussenErofeevScheffler2022,
  author    = {Hermanussen, Michael and Erofeev, Sergei and Scheffler, Christiane},
  title     = {The socio-endocrine regulation of human growth},
  series = {Acta paediatrica : nurturing the child},
  journal   = {Acta paediatrica : nurturing the child},
  publisher = {Wiley},
  address   = {Hoboken},
  issn      = {0803-5253},
  doi       = {10.1111/apa.16504},
  pages     = {5},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Aim Growth is a multifarious phenomenon that has been studied by nutritionists, economists, paediatric endocrinologists; archaeologists, child psychologists and other experts. Yet, a unifying theory of understanding growth regulation is still lacking. Method Critical review of the literature. Results We summarise evidence linking social competition and its effect on hierarchies in social structures, with the neuronal networks of the ventromedial hypothalamus and body size. The endocrine signalling system regulating growth hormone, Insulin-like-Growth-Factor1 and skeletal growth, is well conserved in the evolution of vertebrata for some 400 million years. The link between size and status permits adaptive plasticity, competitive growth and strategic growth adjustments also in humans. Humans perceive size as a signal of dominance with tallness being favoured and particularly prevalent in the upper social classes. Conclusion Westernised societies are competitive. People are tall, and "open to change." Social values include striving for status and prestige implying socio-economic domination. We consider the transition of political and social values following revolutions and civil wars, as key elements that interact with the evolutionarily conserved neuroendocrine competence for adaptive developmental plasticity, overstimulate the hypothalamic growth regulation and finally lead to the recent historic increases in average height.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{BoginHermanussenScheffler2018,
  author    = {Bogin, Barry and Hermanussen, Michael and Scheffler, Christiane},
  title     = {As tall as my peers},
  series = {Journal of biological and clinical anthropology},
  volume    = {74},
  journal   = {Journal of biological and clinical anthropology},
  number    = {5},
  publisher = {Schweizerbart},
  address   = {Stuttgart},
  issn      = {0003-5548},
  doi       = {10.1127/anthranz/2018/0828},
  pages     = {365 -- 376},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {Background: We define migrants as people who move from their place of birth to a new place of residence. Migration usually is directed by "Push-Pull" factors, for example to escape from poor living conditions or to find more prosperous socio-economic conditions. Migrant children tend to assimilate quickly, and soon perceive themselves as peers within their new social networks. Differences exist between growth of first generation and second generation migrants. Methods: We review body heights and height distributions of historic and modern migrant populations to test two hypotheses: 1) that migrant and adopted children coming from lower social status localities to higher status localities adjust their height growth toward the mean of the dominant recipient social network, and 2) social dominant colonial and military migrants display growth that significantly surpasses the median height of both the conquered population and the population of origin. Our analytical framework also considered social networks. Recent publications indicate that spatial connectedness (community effects) and social competitiveness can affect human growth. Results: Migrant children and adolescents of lower social status rapidly adjust in height towards average height of their hosts, but tend to mature earlier, and are prone to overweight. The mean height of colonial/military migrants does surpass that of the conquered and origin population. Conclusion: Observations on human social networks, non-human animal strategic growth adjustments, and competitive growth processes strengthen the concept of social connectedness being involved in the regulation of human migrant growth.},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{HermanussenSchefflerGrothetal.2018,
  author    = {Hermanussen, Michael and Scheffler, Christiane and Groth, Detlef and Bogin, Barry},
  title     = {Perceiving stunting - Student research and the "Lieschen Muller effect" in nutrition science},
  series = {Journal of biological and clinical anthropology : Anthropologischer Anzeiger ; Mitteilungsorgan der Gesellschaft f{\"u}r Anthropologie},
  volume    = {74},
  journal   = {Journal of biological and clinical anthropology : Anthropologischer Anzeiger ; Mitteilungsorgan der Gesellschaft f{\"u}r Anthropologie},
  number    = {5},
  publisher = {Schweizerbart},
  address   = {Stuttgart},
  issn      = {0003-5548},
  doi       = {10.1127/anthranz/2018/0858},
  pages     = {355 -- 358},
  year      = {2018},
  language  = {en}
}