Secular changes and predictors of adult height for 86 105 male and female members of the Thai Cohort Study born between 1940 and 1990.
BACKGROUND
Height trends can be useful indicators of population health but, despite Thailand's rapid socioeconomic development since the 1950s, few studies have examined accompanying secular changes in adult height or the effects of the transition on the heights of rural versus urban populations. This study therefore sought to document average heights in different age groups of rural and urban Thais and to investigate factors associated with attained height.


METHODS
Data from 86,105 Thai Cohort Study participants was used to estimate mean heights for men and women in different birth year groups. Simple regression was used to calculate the change in height per decade of birth year among those based in rural or urban locations as children. Multiple linear regression was used to investigate effects of other childhood factors on height.


RESULTS
Overall, average heights were found to have increased by approximately 1 cm per decade in those born between 1940 and 1990. However, the rate of increase was 0.4-0.5 cm per decade greater among urban-based Thais compared with those from the countryside. Parental education levels, household assets, birth size, sibling number, birth rank and region of residence were also significantly associated with adult height.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest a marked secular increase in Thai heights in the second half of the 20th century probably reflecting improved childhood health and nutrition over this time. Rural-born Thais, who benefited to a lesser extent from the changes, may face future health challenges with greater risks of, among other things, obesity and its health consequences.
Jordan
Susan
S
School of Population Health, the University of Queensland, Public Health Building, Herston Road, Herston Qld 4006, Australia. s.jordan@uq.edu.au
Lim
Lynette
L
Seubsman
Sam-Ang
SA
Bain
Christopher
C
Sleigh
Adrian
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001827:Body Height; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
Ann Hum Biol. 1995 Jul-Aug;22(4):277-88
8849206
J Biosoc Sci. 2003 Apr;35(2):263-85
12664962
Ann Hum Biol. 2009 Nov-Dec;36(6):750-5
19919506
Ann Hum Biol. 1988 Mar-Apr;15(2):161-5
3355105
Popul Health Metr. 2009 Sep 25;7:15
19778455
Ann Hum Biol. 1996 Jul-Aug;23(4):297-306
8830917
Prev Chronic Dis. 2009 Oct;6(4):A121
19754997
J Epidemiol Community Health. 2000 Feb;54(2):97-103
10715741
Int J Epidemiol. 2009 Feb;38(1):110-8
19033357
Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 1999 Sep;30(3):532-8
10774664
Int J Epidemiol. 2009 Feb;38(1):83-92
18782894
Obes Rev. 2009 Nov;10(6):589-92
19656310
Am J Epidemiol. 1999 Apr 15;149(8):726-9
10206622
Am J Hum Biol. 2008 Sep-Oct;20(5):530-7
18478539
Proc Nutr Soc. 2000 May;59(2):317-24
10946801
Int J Epidemiol. 2008 Apr;37(2):266-72
17911153
Am J Hum Biol. 1999 Nov;11(6):735-744
11533989
Am J Epidemiol. 2009 Jul 1;170(1):53-64
19403842
Epidemiol Rev. 2001;23(2):313-42
12192740
Ann Hum Biol. 1999 May-Jun;26(3):287-98
10355499
Ann Hum Biol. 2003 Jul-Aug;30(4):434-42
12881142
J Epidemiol Community Health. 2008 Apr;62(4):351-7
18339829
Am J Epidemiol. 2008 Sep 1;168(5):497-505
18660491
Am J Hum Biol. 2007 Nov-Dec;19(6):836-43
17696141
Ann Hum Biol. 1989 Sep-Oct;16(5):387-95
2802518
J Epidemiol. 2009;19(4):196-201
19542685
Am J Epidemiol. 2000 Jun 1;151(11):1112-20
10873136
J Am Diet Assoc. 2001 Jan;101(1):28-34; quiz 35-6
11209581
Hum Biol. 2006 Dec;78(6):733-41
17564251
Arch Dis Child. 1981 Feb;56(2):116-20
7469461
Ann Hum Biol. 2008 Sep-Oct;35(5):518-34
18821329
Am J Epidemiol. 2003 Sep 1;158(5):479-85
12936903
Eur Heart J. 1997 Mar;18(3):376-93
9076375