TY  - JOUR
A1  - Hermanussen, Michael
A1  - Alt, Christoph
A1  - Staub, Kaspar
A1  - Aßmann, Christian
A1  - Groth, Detlef
T1  - The impact of physical connectedness on body height in Swiss conscripts
JF  - Journal of biological and clinical anthropology : Anthropologischer Anzeiger ; Mitteilungsorgan der Gesellschaft für Anthropologie
N2  - Background: Human populations differ in height. Recent evidence suggests that social networks play an important role in the regulation of adolescent growth and adult height. We further investigated the effect of physical connectedness on height.
 Material and methods: We considered Switzerland as a geographic network with 169 nodes (district capitals) and 335 edges (connecting roads) and studied effects of connectedness on height in Swiss conscript from 1884-1891, 1908-1910, and 2004-2009. We also created exponential-family random graph models to separate possible unspecific effects of geographic vicinity.
 Results: In 1884-1891, in 1908-1910, and in 2004-2009, 1st, 2nd and 3rd order neighboring districts significantly correlate in height (p<0.01). The correlations depend on the order of connectedness, they decline with increasing distance. Short stature districts tend to have short, tall stature districts tend to have tall neighbors. Random network analyses suggest direct road effects on height. Whereas in 1884-1891, direct road effects were only visible between 1st order neighbors, direct road effects extended to 2nd and 3rd in 1908-1910, and in 2004-2009, also to 4th order neighbors, and might reflect historic improvements in transportation. The spatial correlations did not significantly change when height was controlled for goiter (1884-1889) and for median per capita income (2006), suggesting direct road effects also in goiter-allowed-for height and income-allowed-for height.
 Conclusion: Height in a district depends on height of physically connected neighboring districts. The association decreases with increasing distance in the net. The present data suggest that people can be short because their neighbors are short; or tall because their neighbors are tall (community effect on growth). Psycho-biological effects seem to control growth and development within communities that go far beyond our current understanding of growth regulation.
KW  - body height
KW  - connectedness
KW  - community effect
KW  - conscripts
KW  - Switzerland
Y1  - 2014
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1127/0003-5548/2014/0466
SN  - 0003-5548
VL  - 71
IS  - 4
SP  - 313
EP  - 327
PB  - Schweizerbart
CY  - Stuttgart
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Scheffler, Christiane
A1  - Gniosdorz, Birgit
A1  - Staub, Kaspar
A1  - Rühli, Frank
T1  - Skeletal robustness and bone strength as measured by anthropometry and ultrasonography as a function of physical activity in young adults
Y1  - 2014
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Scheffler, Christiane
A1  - Gniosdorz, Birgit
A1  - Staub, Kaspar
A1  - Ruehli, Frank
T1  - Skeletal Robustness and Bone Strength as Measured by Anthropometry and Ultrasonography as a Function of Physical Activity in Young Adults
JF  - American journal of human biology : the official journal of the Human Biology Council
N2  - Background: During the last 10 years, skeletal robustness in children has generally decreased. The reasons for this phenomenon, as well as its outcomes, are undetermined so far.
 Aim: The present study explores the association between anthropometric skeletal measurements, bone quality measurements, and physical activity in young adults.
 Subjects and Methods: 118 German young men (N=568; 19-25 years old) and women (N=550; 19-24 years old) were investigated by anthropometric methods (i. e., height, weight, shoulder, elbow breadth, and pelvic breadth) and quantitative ultrasound measurement (QUS). Strength and stability of Os calcis have been determined by speed of sound (in m/s) and broadband ultrasound attenuation (in dB/Mhz); individual physical activity was analyzed by a pedometer and by questionnaire.
 Results: The results show a correlation between sports hours per week and bone quality index in males. But no correlation exists between anthropometric data and QUSs for either sexes, as well as no correlation between total steps per day and internal bone quality or external bone dimensions.
 Conclusion: These results are discussed in the context of generally decreasing physical activity, the outcomes of prevention programs as well as evolutionary adaptation of human phenotypic plasticity in a changing environment.
Y1  - 2014
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.22504
SN  - 1042-0533
SN  - 1520-6300
VL  - 26
IS  - 2
SP  - 215
EP  - 220
PB  - Wiley-Blackwell
CY  - Hoboken
ER  -