American Journal Of Human Biology[JOURNAL]
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200 papers
Physical, Psychological, and Behavioral Symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome in Relation to Body Size and Shape.
Tutkuviene J, Gervickaite S, Sveikataite M … +4 more , Stulgyte G, Rugelyte J, Simkunaite-Rizgeliene R, Ramasauskaite D
Am J Hum Biol · 2025 Nov · PMID 41243766 · Full text
INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate potential relationships between the frequency of physical, and psychological or behavioral symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in relation to body mass index (BMI) and body...
INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate potential relationships between the frequency of physical, and psychological or behavioral symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in relation to body mass index (BMI) and body shapes in young women. METHODS: In total, 22 of the most common PMS symptoms were assessed using a questionnaire, as well as self-reported height, weight, and body shape (using five silhouette types). A total of 6697 women aged 18-30 was included in the final statistical analysis. Symptom frequencies were measured using a 5-point Likert scale, and the mean frequency of occurrence (MFO) was calculated for all symptoms. Statistical analyses included analysis of variance (ANOVA), univariate logistic regression, and stepwise regression. RESULTS: PMS symptom prevalence ranged from 61.0% to 97.2%. Overall, MFO of all physical PMS symptoms (M ± SD = 3.12 ± 0.75) was lower than the MFO of all psychological and behavioral symptoms (M ± SD = 3.29 ± 0.96; p < 0.001). Women with overweight or obesity, also those with an apple-shaped body, reported the highest symptom frequencies (MFO = 3.20-3.35), while underweight and rectangular-shaped women had the lowest MFO (2.98-3.25; p < 0.001). Stepwise analysis showed BMI and body shape were more strongly associated with physical symptoms than psychological or behavioral ones. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the importance of body size and shape in understanding individual differences in PMS symptoms, suggesting that higher BMI and an apple-shaped body are more associated with PMS symptoms. Therefore, special attention should be paid to women with this body type, and they should be examined more thoroughly in order to take preventive measures in a timely manner.
More Than Childbirth: Unveiling the Risks of Marriage on Women's Mortality in Tang Dynasty China.
Liu Y
Am J Hum Biol · 2025 Nov · PMID 41221699 · Full text
OBJECTIVES: This study investigates how marital and maternal statuses influenced female mortality in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 ce), China. It challenges the focus on reproductive risks by exploring both biological and so...
OBJECTIVES: This study investigates how marital and maternal statuses influenced female mortality in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 ce), China. It challenges the focus on reproductive risks by exploring both biological and social factors affecting female mortality in reproductive and post-reproductive years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Epitaph data were analyzed from four female groups: bureaucrats' wives (married, reproductive), eunuchs' wives (married, nonreproductive due to husband's castration), never-married religious women (never married, nonreproductive), and widowed religious women (reproductive, later left marriage). Ages at death were illustrated using summary statistics and kernel density plots, analyzed using bootstrapped polynomial regression, pairwise comparisons with 9999 replicates, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Male bureaucrats and eunuchs were also included for contextual comparison. RESULTS: Bureaucrats' wives had a significantly lower adjusted mean age at death than nonreproductive groups, eunuchs' wives (-7.43 years; p = 0.006), and never-married religious women (-7.07 years; p = 0.006). Survival curves support that reproductive risks shaped mortality. Among post-reproductive women, those who remained in marital roles had a significantly lower mean age at death than those who joined a religious order (-3.9 years; p = 0.003). The negative effects of remaining in marriage in later life were supported. DISCUSSION: Female mortality resulted from a complex interplay of biological and social factors. Reproductive risks primarily affected females during younger ages. During post-reproductive years, remaining in marriage and widowhood negatively affected survival, while entering religious orders was protective.
Field Methods for Investigating Onset and Progression of Middle Childhood Physical, Hormonal, Cognitive and Social Development.
Helfrecht C, Kroupin I, MacGillivray T … +1 more , Gettler LT
Am J Hum Biol · 2025 Nov · PMID 41200777 · Publisher ↗
Child development is biocultural, meaning both genetics and experience with the ecocultural context shape ontogeny. Developmental systems-physical, hormonal, cognitive, social, among others-are dynamic and have points of...
Child development is biocultural, meaning both genetics and experience with the ecocultural context shape ontogeny. Developmental systems-physical, hormonal, cognitive, social, among others-are dynamic and have points of interrelation with each other and local environments, as well as tradeoffs in their patterning. These articulations challenge our ability to discern the factors influencing our phenotypic outcomes; further, similar outcomes may not reference similar pathways. As a result, our ability to understand the evolution of childhood and its role in human life history remains limited. Middle childhood represents an especially unique phase of human life history, with significant shifts across developmental domains. Physically, children's skeletal growth slows after an initial growth spurt. Hormonally, there is a rise in the production of dehydroepiandrosterone and its sulfate (DHEAS) due to the process of adrenarche, which may have important impacts across developmental systems. Cognitively, children become progressively more rational. Socially, children are increasingly aware of the complexity of human perspectives and morality. Methodological approaches to assess the onset and progression of middle childhood must take into consideration the expansive cross-cultural variation in childhoods. This toolkit offers a set of recommendations for evaluating development across middle childhood, with attention to the eco-cultural context of maturation.
Clinical Thresholds for Visceral Adiposity Accumulation: A Comparative Analysis in Sex-, Age-, and BMI-Matched Black and White Adults.
Graybeal AJ, Oliveira N, Johnson MF … +5 more , Kaylor MG, Compton AT, Swafford SH, Brandner CF, Stavres J
Am J Hum Biol · 2025 Nov · PMID 41190377 · Full text
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to prospectively identify visceral adipose tissue (VAT) accumulation thresholds in a cohort of sex-, age-, and BMI-matched non-Hispanic White and Black adults using a range of commonly employ...
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to prospectively identify visceral adipose tissue (VAT) accumulation thresholds in a cohort of sex-, age-, and BMI-matched non-Hispanic White and Black adults using a range of commonly employed whole-body and abdominal-specific adiposity measures associated with chronic disease risk. METHODS: A total of 344 non-Hispanic White (n = 172) and Black adults (n = 172) matched for sex, age, and BMI completed anthropometric and DXA-based body composition assessments. Anthropometric measures included BMI, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). DXA was used to quantify VAT, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), body fat percentage (BF%) across the whole body, trunk, and android region, and the android-to-gynoid BF% ratio. Segmented linear regression was used to identify significant sex- and race-specific VAT thresholds for each variable-defined as the inflection points where the relationship between VAT and each variable significantly changed. RESULTS: Significant VAT thresholds were observed for BF%, WHtR, SAT, android BF%, and trunk BF% in both racial groups, with all thresholds higher for Black than White adults. When stratified by sex, all variables showed significant thresholds in White males, while none were observed in Black males. Significant VAT thresholds were identified for BF%, WHR, and SAT in Black females; WHtR in White females; and android-to-gynoid BF% in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: After matching for key anthropometric influences, distinct sex- and race-specific VAT thresholds exist for Black and White adults, often falling below current clinical guidelines. These findings support the need for population-specific screening tools to improve early detection and prevention of cardiometabolic risks.
Salivary Testosterone, Age, and Adiposity Associations Among Shuar Males in Amazonian Ecuador Challenge Assumptions of "Normal" Testosterone Patterns.
Gildner TE, Liebert MA, Schrock JM … +8 more , Urlacher SS, Amir D, Harrington CJ, Madimenos FC, Cepon-Robins TJ, Bribiescas RG, Sugiyama LS, Snodgrass JJ
Am J Hum Biol · 2025 Nov · PMID 41175035 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVES: Adult male testosterone concentrations in high income countries often decrease with age and adiposity, a pattern typically viewed as "normal." However, testosterone is expected to be adaptively regulated with...
OBJECTIVES: Adult male testosterone concentrations in high income countries often decrease with age and adiposity, a pattern typically viewed as "normal." However, testosterone is expected to be adaptively regulated within the range of resource constrained, high pathogen, natural fertility conditions across which it evolved to function. We therefore examine associations among testosterone diurnal variation, age, and adiposity among Indigenous Shuar males of Amazonian Ecuador. METHODS: Morning and evening saliva was sampled over three consecutive days to capture diurnal testosterone variation (n = 104, ages 12-67), with one-time measures of adiposity (body fat, BMI). Multilevel models tested predicted associations. Average morning and evening testosterone ratio was calculated to assess diurnal variation, and regression analyses tested the association between this ratio and age. RESULTS: Variation in testosterone concentrations at waking was apparent by age, with young males exhibiting the highest concentrations. Diurnal testosterone variation decreased with age (β = -0.006, p = 0.001). Significant age-by-BMI or percent body fat interactions were documented (p < 0.05). At lower adiposity levels, mean testosterone concentrations across the day were lowest at younger ages, highest in middle-aged participants, and slightly lower at older ages. At higher adiposity levels this pattern was reversed (for BMI) or attenuated (for percent body fat). CONCLUSIONS: "Normal" testosterone levels are largely based on studies from high-income populations that do not account for diverse ecological conditions known to influence human physiology. This study complements others highlighting the complex relationships that exist among age, adiposity, and diurnal testosterone patterns in subsistence populations, suggesting socio-ecological regulation of testosterone.
Association of Air Pollution With Adiposity Rates in Active Runners and Inactive People.
Kutac P, Dankova M, Cipryan L … +7 more , Buzga M, Jirik V, Bunc V, Sigmund M, Krajcigr M, Zimmermann M, Jandacka D
Am J Hum Biol · 2025 Oct · PMID 41147361 · Full text
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this cross-sectional study is to investigate the association between long-term air pollution (AP) exposure and adiposity, primarily visceral fat and secondary body fat in runners and inactive parti...
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this cross-sectional study is to investigate the association between long-term air pollution (AP) exposure and adiposity, primarily visceral fat and secondary body fat in runners and inactive participants. METHODS: This study included 945 individuals (male n = 505 and female n = 440). These included both active (runners: run ≥ 10 km/week) and inactive (did not follow the WHO 2020 PA recommendations) individuals. Dependent variables were body composition parameters fat mass index (FMI) and visceral fat (VFA), measured using dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). A Hologic QDR (Horizon) bone densitometer was used for the measurement. Independent variables were AP values (PM, PM, NO, BaP), for which lifetime exposure (LC) was calculated. Volume physical activity (PA), eating habits, and cardiorespiratory fitness (V̇O) were analyzed as covariates. RESULTS: The results showed that long-term exposure to AP was not associated with increased adiposity (p > 0.05). However, age (p = 0.000), sex (p = 0.000), and V̇O (p = 0.000) were associated with VFA. Values for VFA increased with age, males had higher VFA than females, and VFA values decreased with increasing V̇O (p < 0.05) values. Furthermore, higher V̇O values were strongly associated with lower FMI (p = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Adiposity was not associated with AP in the studied population. Adiposity was affected mainly by lifestyle and associated cardiorespiratory fitness presented by V̇O values.
Associations of In Utero Exposure to Racial Violence and Reproductive Development: The Bogalusa Heart Study.
Santos MP, David M, Bazzano L … +2 more , Sims K, Harville EW
Am J Hum Biol · 2025 Oct · PMID 41137721 · Full text
OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to assess the association between in utero exposure to racial violence during the Civil Rights movement and pubertal development and fertility outcomes within the Bogalusa Heart Study populati...
OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to assess the association between in utero exposure to racial violence during the Civil Rights movement and pubertal development and fertility outcomes within the Bogalusa Heart Study population. METHODS: Utilizing a prospective cohort design, Bogalusa Heart Study participants born between 1960 and 1970 were categorized based on their gestational age during peak racial violence events in Bogalusa. Exposure was defined as being in utero during the first trimester during February-July 1965. Pubertal development was assessed using age at menarche for girls and Tanner staging at age 13 for boys (n = 1945) and girls (n = 1970). Fertility outcomes, including fertility issues and miscarriage, were obtained by self-report from the Bogalusa Babies study (2012-2016). RESULTS: In utero exposure to racial violence was associated with earlier age at menarche in girls (-0.43 years, p < 0.001) and delayed pubertal development in boys (-0.54 Tanner stage at age 13; p = 0.02). An imprecise estimated increased odds of miscarriage (OR = 2.02, 95% CI: 0.92 to 4.47) and fertility issues (OR = 2.66, 95% CI: 0.62 to 11.32) were observed. Analysis by race did not show a significant interaction. CONCLUSION: In utero exposure to racial violence during the first trimester of pregnancy was associated with an earlier age at menarche in girls and slower pubertal development in boys. The findings underscore the importance of considering maternal stressors, specifically racial violence, in understanding variations in reproductive development.
Effect of Earthquake-Related Trauma on Pubertal Maturation: Evidence From Skeletal Age Assessment Following the 2023 Kahramanmaras Earthquakes.
Kavasoglu N, Bor S, Zortuk FB … +1 more , Hamamci N
Am J Hum Biol · 2025 Oct · PMID 41127945 · Publisher ↗
The devastating earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaras on February 6, 2023, caused significant psychosocial stress among children, which may have influenced the timing of pubertal onset. Since early puberty is associated...
The devastating earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaras on February 6, 2023, caused significant psychosocial stress among children, which may have influenced the timing of pubertal onset. Since early puberty is associated with adverse physical and psychological outcomes, understanding the potential of environmental factors-such as natural disasters-to accelerate pubertal development is of great importance. In this retrospective study, a total of 1044 wrist radiographs taken from children aged 10-19 at four university dental faculties were evaluated. The radiographs were obtained during two time periods: pre-earthquake (February 6, 2022-February 6, 2023; n = 544) and postearthquake (February 6, 2023-February 6, 2024; n = 500). All images were assessed by a single expert using the skeletal maturation scale proposed by Grave and Brown. The MP3cap stage, which represents the peak of pubertal growth, was used as the main parameter. Due to the distribution of the data, nonparametric statistical tests were applied. In both female and male children, the age at the MP3cap stage after the earthquake was significantly lower compared to pre-earthquake values, indicating earlier pubertal growth spurts (p < 0.05). The findings indicate that the psychosocial stress induced by the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes may have accelerated pubertal development in children. These results underscore the importance of closely monitoring the growth and development of children affected by natural disasters and providing them with comprehensive psychosocial and medical support.
Mediators of the Association Between Poor Socioeconomic Status and Child Chronic Undernutrition in Rajshahi District, Bangladesh.
Rahman M, Islam MW, Dutta S … +7 more , Rashid MM, Liza FA, Hossen I, Mondal AP, Tabashsum A, Mahdee CM, Shahriar F
Am J Hum Biol · 2025 Oct · PMID 41116310 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVES: Children from poor socioeconomic status (SES) households in Bangladesh and other developing countries face a heightened risk of chronic undernutrition, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study...
OBJECTIVES: Children from poor socioeconomic status (SES) households in Bangladesh and other developing countries face a heightened risk of chronic undernutrition, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigates the association between poor SES and chronic undernutrition in children and explores the mediating factors driving this relationship. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in urban and rural areas of Rajshahi District, Bangladesh. A two-phase sampling strategy was employed: five wards and five union parishads (UPs) were randomly selected, followed by stratified random sampling of 664 households (332 urban, 332 rural). Chronic undernutrition was assessed using height-for-age z-scores. SES was the primary exposure, with five mediating variables: inadequate dietary diversity and delayed breastfeeding initiation, insufficient micronutrient supplementation, disease occurrence, inappropriate health-seeking behaviors, and poor living conditions (e.g., indoor air pollution). Mediation analysis was performed using the Baron and Kenny approach. RESULTS: The prevalence of chronic undernutrition was 23.9%. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that children from middle and high SES households had 0.81 (95% CI: 0.71-0.93) and 0.67 (95% CI: 0.57-0.77) times lower odds of chronic undernutrition, respectively, compared to poor-SES children. Mediation analysis identified key contributing factors: inadequate dietary diversity (17.3%), the lack of use of iodized salt (8.8%), history of recent acute respiratory infection (11%), incomplete vaccination (11.1%), and use of unclean cooking fuel (13.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Poor SES significantly increases the risk of chronic undernutrition in children, mediated by factors such as inadequate diet, disease, incomplete immunization, and poor living conditions. Targeted interventions addressing these mediators could reduce SES-based disparities in child undernutrition.
Correction to "Immunity Switches and Macrophage Manipulations: Trauma, Ovulation, and Depression as Latent Tuberculosis Reactivation Risks".
Am J Hum Biol · 2025 Oct · PMID 41085133 · Publisher ↗
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
Time-Trends in the Adiposity and Fat Distribution Among Children and Adolescents From Kraków (Poland) Since the Beginning of the 21st Century (From 2000 to 2020).
Kryst Ł, Żegleń M, Woronkowicz A … +1 more , Kowal M
Am J Hum Biol · 2025 Oct · PMID 41078291 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVES: Changes in the level of fatness and fat distribution in children and adolescents at the beginning of the 21st century are an important multifaceted problem. The study aimed to assess the changes in the skinfo...
OBJECTIVES: Changes in the level of fatness and fat distribution in children and adolescents at the beginning of the 21st century are an important multifaceted problem. The study aimed to assess the changes in the skinfold thickness and fat distribution in children and adolescents aged 8-18 from Kraków, Poland. METHODS: The study group (8500 girls and boys) consisted of the results of three cross-sectional studies (2000, 2010, 2020). It was divided according to sex and age. Analyzed parameters included five skinfolds, their sum, limbs-to-trunk, and trunk adiposity indicators. RESULTS: In both sexes, the triceps skinfold decreased, while the subscapular skinfold increased in most age groups. The abdominal skinfold increased, but in girls only in younger groups. The suprailiac and calf skinfold changes varied, depending on sex and age. The sum of skinfolds increased in boys, but in older girls, it had a negative trend. The trunk adiposity index had a negative trend only in younger girls, while the limbs-to-trunk adiposity index increased across all ages, the same as in boys. CONCLUSION: There was a trend toward central fat allocation, despite a decrease in skinfold thickness in some groups. This is concerning as central adiposity is associated with an increased health risk. There were also differences between sexes-perhaps girls more often control their body weight and boys exhibit less favorable dietary habits.
Sedentarization and Child Health: A Case Study of the Nutritional Status of Children Under 5 Years Old in the Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia.
Keestra SM, Kabalo BY, Koopaei EK … +4 more , Buffavand L, Gemebo TD, Ayele Y, Stevenson EGJ
Am J Hum Biol · 2025 Oct · PMID 41064952 · Full text
OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates differences in the nutritional status of children under 5 years old among the Bodi (Mela) of southwest Ethiopia, in the context of a sedentarization program which involved resettlement of...
OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates differences in the nutritional status of children under 5 years old among the Bodi (Mela) of southwest Ethiopia, in the context of a sedentarization program which involved resettlement of pastoralist families in government-designed villages (villagization sites). METHODS: Data were collected in 2013 from two settings: state-run villagization sites (Hana), where families were forcibly resettled 6-18 months earlier to farm and receive food aid, and comparison communities in cattle camps (Gura). Families with at least one child under 5 years old were recruited. Household characteristics, disease incidence, infant feeding practices, and anthropometric measurements (weight, height, mid-upper arm circumference, triceps skinfold, and head circumference) were recorded. Age-adjusted z-scores were calculated and compared between sites. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from Emory University, Wolaita Sodo University, and the Southern Nations, Nationalities and People's Region Health Bureau. RESULTS: A total of 106 children from 75 families participated (40 in Hana, 35 in Gura). Nearly one-third of the children were stunted (31.5%) or underweight (27.4%), while 7.6% were wasted. Anthropometric measurements did not differ significantly between the two sites; however, in a sex-stratified analysis, boys in the villagization site had higher weight-for-height but lower triceps skinfold-for-age than those in the comparison site. No significant difference in the proportion wasted was observed. Families in Hana were less likely to report their child having consumed animal milk in the past 24 h and more likely to report a case of diarrhea in the past month. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 1 year after sedentarization, there was no consistent pattern of change in nutritional status among children in resettled families compared to those in pastoralist families.
Embedding Multilevel and Dynamic Systems Approaches in Anthropological Causal Inference: Commentary on Watson et al. (2025).
Rattanapitoon SK, La N, Eaksanti T … +1 more , Rattanapitoon NK
Am J Hum Biol · 2025 Oct · PMID 41064937 · Publisher ↗
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Excess Body Fat and Associated Factors in 7- to 10-Year-Old Schoolchildren in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil: Trend Analysis of Four Cross-Sectional Surveys, 2002-2019.
Nascimento FMC, de Fragas Hinnig P, Garcia MLV … +2 more , de Assis Guedes de Vasconcelos F, Gabriel CG
Am J Hum Biol · 2025 Oct · PMID 41054983 · Full text
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the trend and factors associated with body fat percentage in 7- to 10-year-old schoolchildren in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, from 2002 to 2019. METHODS: This is a trend a...
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the trend and factors associated with body fat percentage in 7- to 10-year-old schoolchildren in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, from 2002 to 2019. METHODS: This is a trend analysis of four cross-sectional surveys involving 6597 schoolchildren attending public and private schools. Body fat percentage (outcome variable) was calculated from triceps and subscapular skinfold thicknesses using Lohman equations and categorized into "no excess body fat" and "excess body fat." Sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics were also investigated. Trends and associated factors were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of excess body fat was 22.6%, 25.5%, 37.5%, and 33.6% in 2002, 2007, 2013, and 2019, respectively, representing a 48.6% increase from 2002 to 2019. Schoolchildren assessed in 2013 (OR = 1.93) and 2019 (OR = 1.69), as well as those who were male (OR = 1.0) or older (9-10 years) (OR = 1.60), were more likely to have excess body fat. CONCLUSIONS: The increasing trends of body fat percentage and excess body fat in 7- to 10-year-old schoolchildren from 2002 to 2019 underscore the need for targeted strategies to address the growing rates of childhood obesity, with particular attention to high-risk groups.
When and Why Do Sex Differences in Handgrip Strength Emerge? Age-Varying Effects of Testosterone From Childhood to Older Adulthood.
Song JS, Kim H, Jung M
Am J Hum Biol · 2025 Oct · PMID 41048184 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVES: On average, males are stronger than females, with hormonal changes during puberty often cited as a contributing factor to this advantage. However, not all evidence consistently supports this explanation. The...
OBJECTIVES: On average, males are stronger than females, with hormonal changes during puberty often cited as a contributing factor to this advantage. However, not all evidence consistently supports this explanation. The purpose of this study was to determine (1) when sex differences in handgrip strength and testosterone emerge, and (2) whether testosterone mediates the sex difference in handgrip strength and if this effect varies across age. METHODS: Time-varying effect modeling (TVEM) was used to examine age-specific trajectories of handgrip strength and testosterone, and to assess whether these trajectories differed by sex. A moderated mediation analysis was conducted to test whether the sex difference in handgrip strength was mediated by testosterone level, and whether this effect varied across age. Data were drawn from the 2011-2012 and 2013-2014 cycles (N = 11,035) of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. RESULTS: TVEM indicated that the sex difference in handgrip strength emerged at age 8, whereas the sex difference in testosterone level became evident at age 10. A moderated mediation analysis revealed that testosterone mediated the association between sex and handgrip strength, and this effect decreased with age (IMM = -0.18, 95% CI: -0.20, -0.16). CONCLUSION: Sex difference in handgrip strength appears to be driven, in part, by the testosterone levels. However, this difference can be observed even before the onset of puberty, which suggests that testosterone alone does not fully explain the sex difference in muscle strength. This finding may have important implications for decisions regarding inclusivity and fairness in sports that emphasize strength.
Body Size and Risk of Death During the 1918 Influenza Pandemic in Alaska.
van Doren TP, Steele LE, Tinker-Fortel E … +1 more , Sattenspiel L
Am J Hum Biol · 2025 Oct · PMID 41030109 · Full text
In the aftermath of the 2009 H1N1 influenza A pandemic, research revealed the relationship between body size and the severity of influenza outcomes. However, there is little data available on body size in historical popu...
In the aftermath of the 2009 H1N1 influenza A pandemic, research revealed the relationship between body size and the severity of influenza outcomes. However, there is little data available on body size in historical populations; therefore, the relationship between body size and 1918 influenza pandemic outcomes is virtually unknown. Alaskan death records from the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics with recorded height and mass at death (n = 2724) were analyzed to illuminate this relationship during both the pandemic (1918-20) and a non-pandemic period (1917, 1921-25). Binomial logistic regression models were fit to predict the likelihood of a P&I death against four other major causes of death, first using only BMI as a predictor, then controlling for demographic variables. BMI alone can predict the probability of P&I death, but only during the pandemic period (p < 0.001). BMI (ORs = 0.90-1.51), all regions (ORs = 2.08-9.17), age (OR = 0.98), sex (male: OR = 0.66-0.75), and ethnicity group (non-Alaska Native: OR = 0.36-0.37) significantly predicted the likelihood of a P&I death during the pandemic. The results suggest that as BMI increases, the risk of P&I death also increases with additional predictors, but only during the 1918 influenza pandemic period. There is no significant relationship between BMI and P&I death outside of pandemic years. This result may contribute an additional unique feature to our understanding of the 1918 influenza pandemic and its epidemiological novelty. This research further contributes new data on historical population biology and contextualizes results within the framework of developmental origins of health and disease for ultimate explanations of differential risks between Alaska Native and settler populations.
Genetic Variability of Roma Population in Serbia: The Perspective From Uniparentally Inherited Markers.
Tanasic V, Vukovic M, Mihajlovic Srejic M … +3 more , Kecmanovic M, Keckarevic Markovic M, Keckarevic D
Am J Hum Biol · 2025 Oct · PMID 41030104 · Publisher ↗
The Roma represent a widespread ethnic minority in Europe that has a unique genetic ancestry shaped by a string of population bottlenecks, differential gene flow from/to the general population, and founder effects during...
The Roma represent a widespread ethnic minority in Europe that has a unique genetic ancestry shaped by a string of population bottlenecks, differential gene flow from/to the general population, and founder effects during their migrations. This study aimed to further characterize the diversity of the Roma population in Serbia and assess the substructuring within the population from the perspective of the mtDNA and Y chromosome. The control region of the mtDNA of 269 samples was sequenced, and 27 Y-STRs and 22 Y-SNPs were analyzed in 165 male samples. We classified samples in concordance with the previously published study on Serbian Roma, based on the geographical region of origin and religious affiliation, and evaluated their genetic relationships with Roma and general populations from the countries throughout their migrational route. Despite the dominance of the ancestral lineages in the paternal genetic pool, a higher diversity was noted in the mtDNA pool. Signals of bidirectional local male gene flow were shown by the presence of the haplogroup H-M2972 among the Serbian population and the high frequency of the I-L621 lineage among Roma. Our results highlight intrapopulation substructuring reflected in different proportions of South Asian and heterogeneity of West Eurasian lineages in both markers across different geographical and religious Roma groups. Asymmetrical gene flow was observed within all Roma subpopulations, while the male-biased gene flow was observed only within the predominantly Orthodox group from the central region of Serbia. Our data reveal the diversity of both uniparental pools of Serbian Roma and emphasize the role of religious affiliation in patterns of admixture with the general population.
Neandertal Cold Adaptation: Technological, Anatomical, and Physiological Responses to Cold Stress in One of Our Closest Fossil Relatives.
Holliday TW, Ocobock C, Cowgill LW … +1 more , Maddux SD
Am J Hum Biol · 2025 Oct · PMID 41029952 · Full text
Neandertals occupied western Eurasia for over 100 000 years, repeatedly enduring climates that ranged from seasonally cold to glacial. This paper reexamines the question of Neandertal cold adaptation using updated fossil...
Neandertals occupied western Eurasia for over 100 000 years, repeatedly enduring climates that ranged from seasonally cold to glacial. This paper reexamines the question of Neandertal cold adaptation using updated fossil, physiological, and archaeological evidence. While some populations lived outside glacial extremes, all faced periodic cold stress, and their survival depended on a diverse set of strategies. Technological buffers, including fire use, hide processing tools, and possible clothing and footwear, likely played a primary role in reducing cold exposure. Anatomically, Neandertals exhibit high body mass, broad trunks, and abbreviated limbs, consistent with thermoregulatory principles. The Neandertal nasal region, long considered paradoxical, now appears well suited to cold-dry air-conditioning; computational fluid dynamics and new endoscopic data support a functionally integrated nasal cavity with substantial internal surface area. Physiological adaptations remain inferential but plausible, including elevated basal metabolism, energy-dense diets, and potential use of brown adipose tissue. These factors likely contributed to high total energy expenditures, enabling thermoregulation in demanding environments. Rather than a single trait or "signature" adaptation, Neandertals present an integrated response to cold stress shaped by geography, development, culture, and genetics. This holistic view reframes Neandertal biology as deeply thermally engaged and sets the stage for targeted tests of function and mechanism in future research.
Doing Science With Our Grandmother's WISDOM: A Worldview Integrating Sociality, Diversity, and Observant Meaning-Making.
Dajani R, Glass D, Fuentes A
Am J Hum Biol · 2025 Oct · PMID 41025390 · Full text
The contemporary moment is defined and marred by geopolitical sorrow-with genocide in Gaza, and wars in Sudan and Ukraine to mention some-devastating the lives of millions of people. The resulting geopolitical, ecologica...
The contemporary moment is defined and marred by geopolitical sorrow-with genocide in Gaza, and wars in Sudan and Ukraine to mention some-devastating the lives of millions of people. The resulting geopolitical, ecological, communal, and personal devastation will last for generations in concrete and substantive ways, as the legacy of war and genocide stays with those who survive. In this perspective, we highlight an example of this by discussing new lines of evidence for intergenerational epigenetic transmission of sustained, war-related trauma. Here we articulate a novel frame labeled WISDOM: a Worldview Integrating Sociality, Diversity, and Observant Meaning-making. This framing aims to facilitate rigorous science in the relatively uncharted domains of biocultural approaches to intergenerational trauma, survival, and resilience. WISDOM is a perspective with practical components, focused primarily on trauma but applicable to other foci at the confluence of biological and social sciences.
Commentary: The Life-Long Importance of Nutrition in the First 1000 Days.
Martorell R
Am J Hum Biol · 2025 Sep · PMID 40999674 · Publisher ↗
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
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