Human growth and development across time and space: Proceedings of the 32nd Aschauer Soirée held in Krobielowice, November 23rd, 2024

Michael Hermanussen; Christiane Scheffler; Jana Fritsch; Piotr Fedurek; Joanna Nieczuja-Dwojacka; Maria Kaczmarek; Sylvia Kirchengast; Dominik Hagmann; Birgit Bühler; Katarzyna Górka; Sylwia Bartkowiak; Başak Koca Özer; Esin Köksal Babacan; Kübra Baran; Martin Musalek; Takashi Satake; Roshan Peiris; Toshie Hirohara; Komei Hattori; Natalia Nowak-Szczepanska; Anna Apanasewicz-Grzegorczyk; Aleksandra Gomula; Slawomir Koziel

doi:10.52905/hbph2025.1.101

Authors

Michael Hermanussen Aschauhof, 24340 Altenhof, Germany https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4037-1597
Christiane Scheffler University of Potsdam, IBB, Human Biology, 14469 Potsdam, Germany https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1954-7578
Jana Fritsch
Piotr Fedurek Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
Joanna Nieczuja-Dwojacka Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw, 01 938 Warsaw, Poland
Maria Kaczmarek Institute of Human Biology and Evolution, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, Poland
Sylvia Kirchengast University of Vienna / Institute for Anthropology Althanstr. 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Dominik Hagmann University of Vienna / Department of Evolutionary Anthropology Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
Birgit Bühler University of Vienna, VIAS Vienna Institute of Archaeological Science. Franz Klein-Gasse 1/III, 1190 Vienna, Austria
Katarzyna Górka Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
Sylwia Bartkowiak Zakład Teorii Sportu Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego im. E. Piaseckiego w Poznaniu, Poznań, Poland
Başak Koca Özer Ankara University, Faculty of Languages, History and Geography, Department of Anthropology, Physical Anthropology, 06100 Sıhhiye, Ankara, Türkiye
Esin Köksal Babacan Ankara University, Graduate School of Social Sciences, Department of Anthropology, 06100 Sıhhiye, Ankara, Türkiye
Kübra Baran Ankara University, Faculty of Science, Department of Statistics, Statistical Information Systems, 06100 Beşevler, Ankara, Türkiye
Martin Musalek Faculty of Physical Education and Sport. Charles University, 162 52 Prague 6 – Veleslavin, Czech Republic
Takashi Satake Institute of Human Culture Studies at Otsuma Women's University, Japan
Roshan Peiris The University of Peradeniya, Japan
Toshie Hirohara Ibaraki University, Japan
Komei Hattori Ibaraki University, Japan
Natalia Nowak-Szczepanska Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
Anna Apanasewicz-Grzegorczyk Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
Aleksandra Gomula Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
Slawomir Koziel Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52905/hbph2025.1.101

Keywords:

plasticity, secular trend, social signal, mobility, physical fitness

Abstract

Sixteen scientists met for the annual Auxological conference held at Krobielowice, Poland, to discuss plasticity of child and adolescent growth in historical and contemporary populations. Secular trends in body height and trends in the distribution of body weight and body mass index were discussed both in view of concurrent trends in economic variables, health, nutrition, and education, and, in view of more recent evidence of body height, as a social signal. Post-war periods of political instability associated with visions of future independence and prosperity favor upward body height trends independent of the economic and almost independent of the nutritional situation. Body height relates to social mobility and depends on education. A study on the relationship of social status, somatic characteristics of frequent horse riding, number of weapons, and body height in 6th to 8th century Avars emphasized the relevance of height as a social signal also in a nomadic medieval population. Migrants are particularly prone to plasticity in height, as the associated socio-economic-political and emotional (SEPE) burden of migration significantly interferes with the regulation of growth. Different patterns were observed in indigenous Hadza where body height does not seem to be an important social signal that influences preferences regarding both in-camp and out-of-camp activities. Indigenous populations are vulnerable and prone to notable decline in their health status. Taking a decolonial view on the historical well-being of the Xavante, the overall health status of this Brazilian population has significantly worsened despite changes in the administrative frameworks, including reductions in mortality rates and increased hospital service usage. In addition to height, the alterations in body weight, the effects of fat mass on physical fitness, lifestyle, sports, and general health in Polish, Czech, and Turkish populations were discussed. Modern body weight distributions are skewed, but the weight of historical urban and contemporary rural populations of developing countries is symmetrically distributed. The skewness of the contemporary weight references leads to underestimating overweight and overestimating the prevalence of wasting. Seasonality was an important factor for growth outcome and health in historical populations. The session was terminated with contributions on body proportion charts, and nutrition in autism spectrum disorders.

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