Body height evolution of adults in a rural area of Bolivia (1829-1987)
Laure, J.
Archivos Latinoamericanos de Nutricion 41(2): 197-212
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-0622 PMID: 1811450 Document Number: 3834
Mean adult height is an indicator of very long-term (centuries) socioeconomic and nutritional trends in homogeneous populations. At the same time, changes in height have also been shown to be an indicator of long-term (generations) living conditions in homogeneous populations, and thus, a good complement to the usual anthropometric indicators of the medium--and short-term changes. Existing data on rural Bolivia confirm that there has been no significant improvement in health, sanitation and, especially, nutritional conditions in the Aymara and Quechua regions since Bolivia's independence (1825), and that living conditions have rather deteriorated in Amazonia (Beni). From a comparison of generational changes in height it is inferred that during the last several decades, and that conditions have probably worsened for the Quechua population environmental conditions appear to have remained the same for the Aymara population. On the other hand, some recovery in the Amazonia and improvement in the Chaco populations are apparent.
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