Describing the children's body shape by means of Geometric Morphometric techniques

MEDIALDEA, LAURA; BAZACO, CAYETANA; D'ANGELO DEL CAMPO, MANUEL DOMINGO; SIERRA-MARTÍNEZ, CARLOS; GONZÁLEZ-JOSÉ, ROLANDO; VARGAS, ANTONIO; MARRODÁN, MARÍA DOLORES

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY

WILEY-LISS, DIV JOHN WILEY & SONS INC

Año: 2019 vol. 168 p. 651 - 664

0002-9483

Introduction: Large shape variations take place during the growth process of children, including quantitative mass and size increase plus qualitative changes in their body shape. The aim of the present study is to apply Geometric Morphometric techniques in order to visualize and quantify such body shape differences in healthy children aged 6?59 months with optimal nutritional status. Materials and methods: Anthropometrical measurements of weight, height, and middle-upper arm circumference were used to assess nutritional status on a sample of 258 Senegalese (n = 154) and Spanish (n = 104) children. A set of 36 anatomical and/or osteologically-based landmarks were identified on the body of the children along with 108 semi-landmarks used to capture curvature attributes on the frontal view of the body image. A specific method was developed to place and photograph children, as well as to locate landmarks, treat images and calculate semi-landmarks. Shape differences among children were analyzed in terms of age, sex, and population origin, taking into consideration allometry effects. Results: Our results indicate significant differences in shape and size for all the three factors under study before removing size effect (p