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Growing taller, living longer? anthropometric history and the future of old age

Growing taller, living longer? anthropometric history and the future of old age
Growing taller, living longer? anthropometric history and the future of old age
In recent years, economic and social historians have made increasing use of anthropometric records (principally, records of human height and weight) to investigate changes in human health and well-being. This paper summarises some of the main findings of this research and demonstrates the remarkable increases in human height which have occurred during the course of the present century. The paper also examines the relationship between changes in average height and changes in life expectancy. Although most of the evidence assembled by anthropometric historians has been derived from records relating to schoolchildren and young adults, their work has profound implications for the study of health in old age. The concluding section examines the relevance of this work to current debates on the decline of mortality, the ‘compression of morbidity’ and the future of social policy.
anthropometry, health, height, old age, longevity
0144-686X
491-512
Harris, Bernard
4fb9402b-64f0-474b-b41f-a9ca34d4ff50
Harris, Bernard
4fb9402b-64f0-474b-b41f-a9ca34d4ff50

Harris, Bernard (1997) Growing taller, living longer? anthropometric history and the future of old age. Ageing & Society, 17 (5), 491-512. (doi:10.1017/S0144686X97006594).

Record type: Article

Abstract

In recent years, economic and social historians have made increasing use of anthropometric records (principally, records of human height and weight) to investigate changes in human health and well-being. This paper summarises some of the main findings of this research and demonstrates the remarkable increases in human height which have occurred during the course of the present century. The paper also examines the relationship between changes in average height and changes in life expectancy. Although most of the evidence assembled by anthropometric historians has been derived from records relating to schoolchildren and young adults, their work has profound implications for the study of health in old age. The concluding section examines the relevance of this work to current debates on the decline of mortality, the ‘compression of morbidity’ and the future of social policy.

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Published date: 1997
Keywords: anthropometry, health, height, old age, longevity
Organisations: Sociology & Social Policy

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 33864
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/33864
ISSN: 0144-686X
PURE UUID: 4f65b2f4-653a-44b3-9893-f7f55a43c4a7

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Date deposited: 07 Dec 2006
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 07:45

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Author: Bernard Harris

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