Body proportions in healthy adult Inuit in East Greenland in 1963

OBJECTIVES: It is important to know the starting point when describing changes in Inuit in transition.

STUDY DESIGN: The original charts of 1,852 individuals from the epidemiological investigation in East Greenland around 1963 performed by Littauer and colleagues were recovered recently. They included height, weight and a physical investigation.

METHODS AND RESULTS: The focus of this paper was adult Inuit body proportions in 1963 by ten-year age groups excluding participants with disabilities affecting body build. Relatively stable values were seen in both genders with age. Median values in men/women aged 20 years and above were: height 164/153.5 cm, weight 64/54 kg and BMI 23.7/23.1. Men aged 50 years and above had a little lower height and weight than young men. Women aged 40-49 years had a higher weight and BMI, but this evened out in the older age groups. Median BMI was relatively high compared to WHO definition.

CONCLUSIONS: The data from 1963 gives a starting point for evaluating changes in Inuit body build and the prevalence of overweight. Furthermore, they indicate a need for Inuit-specific normal BMI delineation.