Growth Trajectory of Body Size in Baduy People

Abstract

The measurenment of body size is the best way to find out the health, nutritional status and quality of life of a population. Many indigenous populations that are local, scattered, and less or not involved in the network of social services, economic and politics, have specific growth trajectories. Baduy people are indigenous population which is more-or-less socially isolated. Marriage is restricted among Baduy people only. Present study aims to determine the growth trajectory of female and male of Baduy people with cross-sectional method. Body size of Baduy people may be categorized as same size as pygmy population. They have a slow growth rate at child to juvenile transition, low and long growth spurt with prolonged growth well beyond reproductive maturation. Low growth spurt, which leads to small body size in the growing period, may be a saving on body maintenance costs. Prolonged somatic growth offset the slow growth rate at child to juvenile transition and low growth spurt. Baduy people older than 30 year are shorter and smaller than younger people, suggesting secular trend.