Body morphology and aging among the Mennonites of Kansas and Nebraska.

CRAWFORD MH, DEMARCHI DA, ELLERD M, PUPPALA S

Different Seasons: Biological Aging of Mennonites of the Midwestern United States

University of Kansas

Lugar: Lawrence; Año: 2000; p. 55 - 67

This chapter examined the degree and causes of morphological variation assessed by anthropometric measurements among the Mennonites of Central Kansas and Nebraska.  Highly significant differences for most of the anthropometric measurements were observed between the sexes. Similarly, a clear cut trend in age variation was observed, with stature decreasing as a function of age. Weight, however,  increases with age, until the later age cohorts when both weight and skin folds (measure of fat) decrease, With the increased weight and greater incidence of obesity, the risk of acquiring chronic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, and hypertension, increases exponentially among the Mennonites. In part, because of a diet high in fat, and a decrease in physical activity, there is also a dramatic increase in risk for various forms of cancer. Despite the similar environments and genetic background, there are significant morphological differences between the three Mennonite communities. Discriminant function analysis on the basis of anthropometrics indicates the high degree of differentiation of these populations. Henderson females are most unique morphologically judging  from 94% of the individuals being correctly classified. Dendrograms of Mahalanobis’ distances reveals that Goessel and Meridian are most similar morphologically. Yet. on the basis of historical reconstruction and standard genetic markers, Goessel and Henderson should cluster together.  This pattern of clustering is most likely due to two contributing factors: 1) the fission of the Anlexanderwohl  community into Henderson and Goessel was along familial lines, therefore, the division of the gene pool was non-random. 2) there are profound environmental differences between Nebraska and Kansas and that Meridian and Goessel because of their geographic proximity share similar environments that affect the plastic components of body morphology.