Persistent variations in average height between countries and between socio-economic groups: an overview of 10 European countries

作者：Adriënne E.J.M. Cavelaars, Anton Eduard Kunst, José JM Geurts, Roberta Crialesi, Liv Grøtvedt, Uwe Helmert, Eero T. Lahelma, Olle Lundberg, Andreas Mielck, Niels K. Rasmussen, Enrique Regidor, Th. Spuhler, Johan P. Mackenbach · 发表于：Annals of Human Biology · 年份：2000 · DOI：10.1080/03014460050044883 · 被引用次数：268 · 研究领域：Birth, Development, and Health、Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet、Health disparities and outcomes

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: This paper aims to provide an overview of variations in average height between 10 European countries, and between socio-economic groups within these countries. DATA AND METHODS: Data on self-reported height of men and women aged 20-74 years were obtained from national health, level of living or multipurpose surveys for 1987-1994. Regression analyses were used to estimate height differences between educational groups and to evaluate whether the differences in average height between countries and between educational groups were smaller among younger than among older birth cohorts. RESULTS: Men and women were on average tallest in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands and shortest in France, Italy and Spain (range for men: 170-179 cm; range for women: 160-167 cm). The differences in average height between northern and southern European countries were not smaller among younger than among older birth cohorts. In most countries average height increased linearly with increasing birth-year (approximately 0.7-0.8 cm/5 years for men and approximately 0.4 cm/5 years for women). In all countries, lower educated men and women on average were shorter than higher educated men (range of differences: 1.6-3.0 cm) and women (range of differences: 1.2-2.2 cm). In most countries, education-related height differences were not smaller among younger than among older birth cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: The persistence of international differences in average height into the youngest ...