Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T04:57:51.700Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

SECULAR GROWTH AND MATURATION CHANGES IN HUNGARY IN RELATION TO SOCIOECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 April 2015

Eva B. Bodzsar
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Anthropology, Eotvos Lorand University Budapest, Hungary
Annamaria Zsakai*
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Anthropology, Eotvos Lorand University Budapest, Hungary
Nicholas Mascie-Taylor
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Anthropology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
*
1Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]

Summary

This paper analyses the secular changes in the body development patterns of Hungarian children between the 1910s and the beginning of the 2000s in relation to socioeconomic and demographic changes in the country. Individual growth data of children were available from two national growth studies (1983–86, 2003–06), while sample-size weighted means of children’s body dimensions were collected through regional studies between the 1920s and 1970s. Gross domestic product, Gini index, life expectancy at birth and under-5 mortality rate were used to assess the changes in economic status, income inequalities of the society and the population’s general health status, respectively. Secular changes in food consumption habits were also examined. The positive Hungarian secular changes in socioeconomic status were associated with a continuous increase in children’s body dimensions. The negative socioeconomic changes reflected only in wartime and post-war periods of children’s growth, and the considerable socioeconomic changes at the beginning of the 1990s did not appear to influence the positive trend in children’s growth. The positive secular trend in stature and body mass did not level off at the beginning of the 2000s: the socioeconomic conditions that support optimal growth and maturation could improve in Hungary.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press, 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aassve, A., Billari, F. C. & Speder, Zs. (2006) Societal transition, policy changes and family formation: evidence from Hungary. European Journal of Population 22(2), 127152.Google Scholar
Aeberli, I., Henschen, I., Molinari, L. & Zimmermann, M. B. (2010) Stabilisation of the prevalence of childhood obesity in Switzerland. Swiss Medical Weekly 140, w13046.Google ScholarPubMed
Bartucz, L. (1923) Body development of school-aged children in Hungary [in Hungarian]. Anthropologiai Fuzetek 1, 8892.Google Scholar
Berend, I. T. (1990) The Hungarian Economic Reforms, 1953–1988. CUP Archive, Budapest.Google Scholar
Berend, I. T. (2000) From regime change to sustained growth in central and eastern Europe. Economic Survey of Europe 2000, 4768.Google Scholar
Berend, T. I. & Ranki, G. (1985) The Hungarian Economy in the Twentieth Century. Croom Helm, London.Google Scholar
Bielicki, E. M., Haasa, J. D. & Hulanicka, B. (2012) Secular changes in the height of Polish schoolboys from 1955 to 1988. Economics and Human Biology 10(3), 310317.Google Scholar
Bielicki, T. & Hulanicka, B. (1998) Secular trend in stature and age at menarche in Poland. In Bodzsar, E. B. & Susanne, C. (eds) Secular Growth Changes in Europe. Eotvos University Press, Budapest, pp. 263279.Google Scholar
Bielicki, T., Szklarska, A., Koziel, S. & Ulijaszek, S. J. (2005) Changing patterns of social variation in stature in Poland: effects of transition from a command economy to the free-market system? Journal of Biosocial Science 37, 427434.Google Scholar
Bielicki, T. & Welon, I. (1982) Growth data as indicators of social inequalities: the case of Poland. Yearbook of Physical Anthropology 25, 153167.Google Scholar
Bodzsar, E. B. (1975) Data for Puberty of Girls. Humanbiologia Budapestinensis Series, Volume 3.Google Scholar
Bodzsar, E. B. (1998) Secular growth changes in Hungary. In Bodzsar, E. & Susanne, C. (eds) Secular Growth Changes in Europe. Eotvos University Press, Budapest, pp. 175205.Google Scholar
Bodzsar, E. B. (2006) Secular change in growth and sexual maturation of Hungarian children. International Journal of Anthropology 21(1), 2532.Google Scholar
Bodzsar, E. B. & Susanne, C. (eds) (1998) Secular Growth Changes in Europe. Eotvos University Press, Budapest.Google Scholar
Bodzsar, E. & Zsakai, A. (2012) Body Developmental Status of Hungarian Children and Adolescents. Hungarian National Growth Study 20032006. Plantin Press, Budapest.Google Scholar
Bodzsar, E. B. & Zsakai, A. (2014) Recent trends in childhood obesity and overweight in the transition countries of Eastern and Central Europe. Annals of Human Biology 41(3), 263270.Google Scholar
Bornhorst, F. & Commander, S. (2006) Regional unemployment and its persistence in transition countries. Economics of Transition 14(2), 269288.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bottyan, O., Dezso, Gy., Eiben, O. G., Farkas, Gy., Rajkai, T., Thoma, A. & Veli, Gy. (1963) A menarche kora Magyarorszagon (Menarcheal age in Hungary) [in Hungarian]. Anthropologiai Kozlemenyek 7, 2539.Google Scholar
Brown, D. L., Kulcsar, L. J., Kulcsar, L. & Obadovics, C. (2005) Post‐socialist restructuring and population redistribution in Hungary. Rural Sociology 70(3), 336359.Google Scholar
Cardoso, H. F. V. & Caninas, M. (2010) Secular trends in social class differences of height, weight and BMI of boys from two schools in Lisbon, Portugal (1910–2000). Economics and Human Biology 8(1), 111120.Google Scholar
Cole, T. J. (2003) The secular trend in human physical growth: a biological view. Economics and Human Biology 1(2), 161168.Google Scholar
Eiben, O. G., Barabas, A. & Panto, E. (1991) The Hungarian National Growth Study. Humanbiologia Budapestinensis series, Volume 21.Google Scholar
Eiben, O. G. & Panto, E. (1986) The Hungarian National Growth Standards. Anthropologiai Kozlemenyek 30, 523.Google Scholar
Ellis, B. J. (2004) Timing of pubertal maturation in girls: an integrated life history approach. Psychological Bulletin 130(6), 920958.Google Scholar
European Commission. (2013) Inequality, Growth and Mobility: The Inter-temporal Distribution of Income in European Countries 2003–2007. URL http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/3888793/5849589/KS-RA-11-003-EN.PDF/432b0d1e-aea0-42e4-9fcd-acc1f8cc7828?version=1.0 (accessed 20th December 2013).Google Scholar
Eveleth, P. B & Tanner, J. M. (1990) Worldwide Variation in Human Growth. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Fekete, S. (1955) A serdules kora (Age at Puberty). In Zoltan, I. (ed.) Nogyogyaszat (Gynaecology) [in Hungarian]. Muvelt Nep, Budapest, pp. 3436.Google Scholar
Frigyesi, J. (1948) Nogyogyaszat (Gynaecology) [in Hungarian]. Stephaneun Press, Budapest, p. 576.Google Scholar
Gluckman, P. D. & Hanson, M. A. (2006) Evolution, development and timing of puberty. Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism 17(1), 712.Google Scholar
Godina, E. Z. (1998) Secular changes in Russia and the former Soviet Union. In Bodzsar, E. B. & Susanne, C. (eds) Secular Growth Changes in Europe: Eotvos University Press, Budapest, pp. 351367.Google Scholar
Gohlke, B. & Woelfle, J. (2009) Growth and puberty in German children: is there still a positive secular trend? Deutsches Arzteblatt International 106, 377382.Google Scholar
Hatton, T. J. & Bray, B. E. (2010) Long run trends in the heights of European men, 19th–20th centuries. Economics and Human Biology 8(3), 405413.Google Scholar
Hauspie, R. C., Vercauteren, M. & Susanne, C. (1997) Secular changes in growth and maturation: an update. Acta Paediatrica (Supplement) 423, 2027.Google Scholar
Hungarian Central Statistical Office (2010) Hungary 1989–2009. In the Mirror of the Changes [in Hungarian]. Hungarian Central Statistical Office, Budapest.Google Scholar
Hungarian Central Statistical Office (2012) Hungarian Statistical Yearbook, 2011 [in Hungarian]. Hungarian Central Statistical Office, Budapest.Google Scholar
Hungarian Central Statistical Office (2013) Trends in Food Consumption in 2011 [in Hungarian]. Statisztikai Tukor VI/42, 15.Google Scholar
Kezmarszky, T. (1873) Uber die Gewichtsveränderungen reifer Neugeborenen. Archives of Gynaecology 5, 547561.Google Scholar
Kincses, G. (ed.) (2004) The Health and Social System of Hungary [in Hungarian]. Hungarian Institute of Health Information, Budapest.Google Scholar
Kobzova, J., Vignerova, J., Blaha, P., Krejcovsky, L. & Riedlova, J. (2004) The 6th Nationwide Anthropological Survey of Children and Adolescents in the Czech Republic in 2001. Central European Journal of Public Health 12(3), 126130.Google ScholarPubMed
Koca Ozer, B. (2007) Growth reference centiles and secular changes in Turkish children and adolescents. Economics and Human Biology 5(2), 280301.Google Scholar
Koca Ozer, B. (2008) Secular trend in body height and weight of Turkish adults. Anthropological Science 116, 191199.Google Scholar
Kollega Tarsoly, I. (1997) Hungary in the XXth Century. Babits Press, Budapest.Google Scholar
Larnkaer, A., Schroder, S. A., Schmidt, I. M., Jorgensen, M. H. & Fleischer Michaelsen, K. (2006) Secular change in adult stature has come to a halt in northern Europe and Italy. Acta Paediatrica 95(6), 754755.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Liestol, K. & Rosenberg, M. (1995) Height, weight and menarcheal age of schoolgirls in Oslo: an update. Annals of Human Biology 22, 199205.Google Scholar
Manyi Szabo, I. & Goro, K. (1996) Food Consumption. Hungarian Central Statistical Office, Budapest.Google Scholar
Maria-Dolores, R. & Martinez-Carrion, J. M. (2011) The relationship between height and economic development in Spain, 1850–1958. Economics and Human Biology 9(1), 3044.Google Scholar
Marki-Zay, P. (2005) Comparative analysis of Hungary’s development. PhD dissertation, Pazmany Peter Catholic University, Budapest.Google Scholar
Mitchell, B. R. (2000) International Historical Statistics: Europe 1750–1993. Palgrave Macmillan, London.Google Scholar
Peneau, S., Salanave, B., Maillard-Teyssier, L., Rolland-Cachera, M. F., Vergnaud, A. C. & Mejean, C. (2009) Prevalence of overweight in 6- to 15-year-old children in central/western France from 1996 to 2006: trends toward stabilization. International Journal of Obesity 33, 401407.Google Scholar
Philipov, D. & Dorbritz, J. (2003) Demographic consequences of economic transition in countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Population Studies 39, Council of Europe Publishing, Strasburg.Google Scholar
Salanave, B., Peneau, S., Rolland-Cachera, M. F., Hercberg, S. & Castetbon, K. (2009) Stabilization of overweight prevalence in French children between 2000 and 2007 in France. International Journal of Pediatric Obesity 4, 6672.Google Scholar
Sjoberg, A., Lissner, L., Albertsson-Wikland, K. & Marild, S. (2008) Recent anthropometric trend among Swedish school children: evidence for decreasing prevalence of overweight in girls. Acta Pediatrica 97, 118123.Google Scholar
Susanne, C. & Bodzsar, E. B. (1998) Patterns of secular change of growth and development. In Bodzsar, E. B. & Susanne, C. (eds) Secular Growth Changes in Europe. Eotvos University Press, Budapest, pp. 526.Google Scholar
Tanner, J. M. (1962) Growth and Adolescence. Blackwell, Oxford.Google Scholar
Tanner, J. M. (1982) The potential of auxological data for monitoring economic and social well-being. Social Science History 6(4), 571581.Google Scholar
Tanner, J. M. (1992) Growth as a measure of the nutritional and hygienic status of a population. Hormone Research 38, 106115.Google Scholar
Tokes, R. (1996) Political transition and social transformation in Hungary. Afers Internacionals 34–35, 79101.Google Scholar
Trading Economics (2013) URL: http://www.tradingeconomics.com (accessed 20th December 2013).Google Scholar
Tutkuviene, J. (2005) Sex and gender differences in secular trend of body size and frame indices of Lithuanians. Anthropologischer Anzeiger 63, 2944.Google Scholar
Vercauteren, M. & Susanne, C. (1985) The secular trend of height and menarche in Belgium: are there any signs of a future stop? European Journal of Pediatrics 144, 306309.Google Scholar
Vercauteren, M., Hauspie, R. C. & Susanne, C. (1998) Biometry of Belgian boys and girls: changes since Quetelet. In Bodzsar, E. B. & Susanne, C. (eds) Secular Growth Changes in Europe. Eotvos University Press, Budapest, pp. 4763.Google Scholar
Webb, E. A., Kuh, D., Pajak, A., Kubinova, R., Malyutina, S. & Bobak, M. (2008) Estimation of secular trends in adult height, and childhood socioeconomic circumstances in three Eastern European populations. Economics and Human Biology 6, 228236.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Weber, E. (1969) Grundriss der biologischen Statistik (5th edition). Fischer Verlag, Jena, pp. 8186.Google Scholar
Weiner, J. S. & Lourie, J. A. (eds) (1969) Human Biology. A Guide to Field Methods. IBP Handbook, Blackwell Science, Oxford, Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Wilkinson, R. & Pickett, K. (2011) The Spirit Level: Why Greater Equality Makes Societies Stronger. Bloomsbury Press, New York.Google Scholar
Wilson, D. C. & Sutherland, I. (1950) Further observation on the age at menarche. British Medical Journal 2, 862866.Google Scholar
World Bank. (2011) Gini Index. The World Bank, Washington DC. URL: http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI/ Google Scholar
Woronkowicz, A., Cichocka, B. A., Kowal, M., Kryst, L. & Sobiecki, J. (2012) Physical development of girls from Krakow in the aspect of socioeconomical changes in Poland (1938–2010). American Journal of Human Biology 24(5), 626632.Google Scholar
Zsakai, A. & Bodzsar, E. B. (2012) The 2nd Hungarian National Growth Study (2003–2006). Annals of Human Biology 39(6), 516525.Google Scholar