Nutritional anthropometry of children and adolescents in Spain in the middle of the 20th century (1934–1965)
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15097235 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Maria Dolores Marrodán (0000-0002-1697-1923, Universidad Complutense de Madrid), Ana Garcés Sánchez (Universidad Complutense de Madrid), María Sánchez Alvarez (0000-0003-3049-3822, Universidad Complutense de Madrid), Angel Herráez (0000-0002-9900-6845, Universidad de Alcalá, corresponding author), Marisa González Montero De Espinosa (Universidad Complutense de Madrid), Marisa González‐montero De Espinosa (0000-0003-0541-8038, Universidad Complutense de Madrid) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | e61-e61 |
| Publication date | 2026-01-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Public Health Nutrition (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1368-9800 • E-ISSN: 1475-2727 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1017/s1368980026102250 |
| PMID | 41913687 |
| OpenAlex | W7144187468 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 12 |
Objective: The general objective was to explore the nutritional condition of schoolchildren, based on certain body measurements published in various reports (from 1934 to 1965). More specifically, we intended to analyse, first, the secular trend of growth by comparing historical anthropometric data with current national and international figures and, second, to study the possible variability of body measurements at that time among different Spanish regions and of different socioeconomical levels. Design: Based on these reports, a sample of individuals of both sexes, between 6 and 16 years of age, was selected. Average weight and height were calculated for each age and sex, and the BMI was determined for all series. The data of these series were compared first with each other and then, using the z-score method, with reference tables published by the WHO and by a current Spanish reference. Setting: Seven Spanish historical series, from 1934 to 1965. Subjects: 114 880 individuals aged 6 to 16 years (59 786 boys and 55 094 girls). Results: Almost all the historical populations assessed show chronic undernutrition and underweight, strongly influenced by socioeconomic status. On the other hand, nutritional status appears almost independent of rural or urban environment. Conclusions: In the series analysed, various states of chronic undernutrition and underweight were present, mainly in schoolchildren from the most disadvantaged social groups. The secular trend in height and weight occurred in times after the beginning of Franco’s developmentalism
Anthropometry · Body mass index · Disadvantaged · Malnutrition · Population · Secular variation · Socioeconomic status · Underweight · Medicine and Dermatology Studies History · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Sports and Physical Education Studies
Development of a WHO growth reference for school-aged children and adolescents
Early life events and their consequences for later disease
Variation of the cormic index since the onset of summer school camps in Spain (1887) up to present days
Hand grip strength in boys and girls from summer school camps in Spain, 1900–1925. A comparison with 21st century data
Four decades of socio-economic inequality and secular change in the physical growth of Guatemalans
Historical recollection of anthropometric data from schoolchildren attending summer camps from 1887 to 1934 in Spain
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |