Allometric Model Study of Inter Limb Growth: A Case Study of Children From Jessore District

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the allometric growth of inter-limbs of males and females. All the subjects were student of primary school of urban and rural area at Jessore district in Bangladesh. The age ranges of the subjects were between 6 to 12 years for males, 6-11 years for females. Longitudinal data on body and head dimensions (stature, weight, sitting height, leg length, chest circumference, left and right upper arm length, elbow-wrist length, left and right tibia length, left and right upper arm circumference, head length, head breadth and head circumference) were measured from 2006 to 2009. The study started with 117 children. There was about 24% loss of the sample size. Finally we were 89 subjects. Descriptive statistics, growth chart and allometric growth model were used. Allometric relationships between body and head dimensions were obtained through log-linear regression analysis. Growth of head dimensions (head length, head breadth and head circumference) was negatively allometric with respect to stature for males and females, i.e., growth rate of head dimensions were smaller than growth rate of stature. Growth of body dimensions (leg length, tibia length, arm length etc.) were positive allometry with respect to stature implying growth of these body dimensions were greater than that of stature but the growth of sitting height with respect to stature were negative allometry. Growth of leg length and upper arm length with respect to stature were isometry for urban females. Growth of urban males and females were greater than rural males and females in stature, weight, sitting height, leg length, chest circumference, head length, head breadth and head circumference. Average stature differs more than 5 cm between urban and rural females, 4 cm for urban males and females. Average weight differs more than 4 kg between urban and rural males, 6 kg for urban and rural females. An in-depth further study should be taken into accounts for searching the reason of this regional difference.