Secular trend in body dimensions in boys from Tuzla region in period 1980 – 1996

Within 16 year-period secular trend in seven measurements of physical growth of male children and youth from Tuzla Region, was researched by corresponding analysis of the sample that involved 1329 researched subjects. Our data were compared with the results of research from 1980 in the sample of 1349 boys. Nine successive generations in 1980 and 1996, from Tuzla region, were involved in this research. Analysis of the data obtained is based primarily on scientific elaboration of the situation registered in 1996 in the tested part of the broader population, after an unnatural and extremely unfavorable period for physical growth of the large majority of that population. The aim of this research was to establish secular trend (negative or positive) for the seven measurements of physical growth of male children and youth comparing our results from 1996 to corresponding research results on growth and development from1980, the sample of about same population (nearly same number of investigated persons). Although the unfavorable war living conditions negatively affected ontogenesis of the researched subjects, body dimensions of male children and youth were established as harmonious, in the limits of average European standards. However, it seems the unfavorable living conditions caused temporary slowdown in body dimensions, so, for these generations (11 to 19 years old), we could not find any increase of mean values (for certain number) of the researched parameters in comparison with the sample from 1980 year. So, 16 year-acceleration trend for most parameters was established and it is particularly evident inpost pubertal period.