J Med Sci, VolumeRahmawati 47, No. et al.,2, June: Physical 85-95 comparison between Rampasasa Pygmy and Yogyakarta children of Indonesia Physical comparison between Rampasasa Pygmy and Yogyakarta children of Indonesia Neni Trilusiana Rahmawati*, Janatin Hastuti, Rusyad Adi Suriyanto Laboratory of Bioanthropology and Paleoanthropology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.19106/JMedSci004702201505 ABSTRACT In growth studies, somatotyping allows one to characterize changes in physique during growth in order to monitor growth patterns and to better understand variations in adult physique. Information on the physique of children with short stature is limited In Indonesia the study of somatotype for Pygmy children had never been done. The aims of this study were to compare the physiques of Rampasasa Pygmy and Yogyakarta children and to evaluate factors that might lead to variability in physiques. The sample consisted of 61 Rampasasa Pygmy (32 boys and 29 girls) and 319 Javanese children in Yogyakarta (173 boys and 146 girls) aged 8–13 years. Height, weight, biepicondylar breadths of the humerus and femur, calf and upper arm circumferences, and skinfolds (at triceps, subscapula, calf, and supraspine) were measured on each subject. We used somatotyped by the Heath-Carter method. The results showed that the Pygmy children were shorter, lighter, and less endomorphic than the Yogyakarta children. Our findings suggest that the observed differences between Rampasasa Pygmy and Yogyakarta children could be related mainly to environment background in the two areas. ABSTRAK Dalam studi pertumbuhan, somatotipe dipakai untuk mencirikan perubahan fisik selama pertumbuhan serta dapat memantau pola pertumbuhan dalam memberikan variasi fisik pada saat dewasa. Penelitian tentang anak-anak dengan tinggi badan pendek masih sangat terbatas. Di Indonesia studi somatotipe untuk anak-anak Pygmi belum pernah dilakukan. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk membandingkan fisik anak-anak Pygmi di Rampasasa dengan anak-anak di Yogyakarta, serta untuk mengevaluasi faktor-faktor yang mungkin berperan dalam perbedaan fisik diantara kedua populasi tersebut. Subjek terdiri dari 61 anak-anak Pygmi dan 319 anak-anak Yogyakarta, usia antara 8-13 tahun. Setiap subjek dilakukan pengukuran meliputi tinggi dan berat badan, diameter biepicondilus humerus dan femur, lingkaran lengan atas dan betis, tebal lipatan trisep, subscapula, supraspinale dan betis. Penentuan somatotipe menggunakan metode Heath Carter. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa anak-anak Pygmi mempunyai ukuran lebih pendek, lebih kurus, dan kurang endomorf dibanding anak-anak Yogyakarta. Pengamatan menunjukkan bahwa adanya perbedaan somatotipe anak-anak di antara kedua populasi tersebut kemungkinan disebabkan oleh faktor lingkungan. Keywords : height – weight – somatotype - Rampasasa Pygmy children - Yogyakarta children Corresponding author: [email protected] 85 J Med Sci, Volume 47, No. 2, June: 85-95 INTRODUCTION components during growth period can also Physique refers to an individual’s body provide useful information about growth form. Between birth and maturity the human status as well as timing and rate of sexual 6 body does not only increases in size, but also maturation. Somatotype research in children changes substantially in shape. Malina et is important, because they exhibit different al.1 suggested that the study of physique is somatotype patterns from adults. In normal 7,8 an area of study which sometimes labeled as growth, Rahmawati et al. reported that the human constitution. Rating and classification well-off children of Yogyakarta were more of physique or body form as a whole have a endomorphic, and the low-income children long history. Sheldon et al.2 gave a conceptual were more ectomorphic. During puberty, approach to the assessment of physique urban girls were lighter than the urban boys, which is the most commonly used method whereas rural girls had greater stature and today. They used a term of somatotype for weight than rural boys. In the somatochart, studying physique by focusing on the variable before puberty urban children were contribution of the three components namely distributed halfway between endomorphy and to an individual’s body build (endomorphy, mesomorphy in both sexes, and thereafter mesomorphy, ectomorphy). Originally, the the boys tended toward ectomorphy and the method of somatotyping was developed on girls toward endomorphy. The somatotype adult males by Sheldon et al.2 Heath and of rural children remained ectomorphic, but Carter3 modified Sheldon’s original method differently by sex with a greater mesomorphic for somatotype assessment in children. The element in the boys and a greater endomorphic physique study during growth permits a better element in the girls. understanding of variation in adult physique. Human height is determined by various Moreover, with a minor limitation, the method factors such as genetic, hormones, as well of Heath and Carter can be applied to both as environmental factors, such as nutrition. sexes at all ages.4 Pygmy is a term used for various ethnic The somatotype during childhood is groups worldwide whose average height is characterized as part of changing of the body unusually low; pygmies are short populations according growth and development. On the with normal body proportions. Anthropologist average, from preschool ages through young defines Pygmy as any group whose adult adulthood, boys are more mesomorphic, men grow to less than 150 cm (4 feet 11 slightly more ectomorphic, and less inches) in average height, and a member of 9 endomorphic than girls; these differences a slightly taller group is termed Pygmoid. increase after adolescence.1,4 Although there The small body size of human Pygmies has are some changes in somatotype between been interpreted as an adaptation in itself, ages 6 to 12, changes during adolescence into whether to live in dense tropical forests, adulthood are greater.4 thermoregulation, or endurance againts 10 In growth studies, somatotyping allows starvation in low productivity environments. 11 one to characterize changes in physique Merimee et al. suggested that short adult during growth in order to monitor growth stature in Pygmies, for example in African patterns and to better understand variations Pygmies is due “primarily”, if not solely, to the in adult physique.1,5 Changes in somatotype absence of accelerated growth at puberty, and Merimee also claimed that African pygmies 86 Rahmawati et al., Physical comparison between Rampasasa Pygmy and Yogyakarta children of Indonesia grow at the same rate as other Africans until occupation of Rampasasa Pygmy is agriculture puberty, when their growth rate declines which uses plant cultivation systems, such and that of the other population increased. as maize (Zea mays), cassava (Manihot Moreover, Merimee et al.11 reported that the utilissima), sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), testosterone values were normal at all ages, anchoring (Curcubita pepo) and kidney beans while IGF-levels failed to raise to the same (Phaseolus vulgaris). These people eat meat extent in Pygmies at adolescence (250 U/mL) only at traditional ceremonies, festivals and vs 500 U/mL in American adolescents. weddings and also at the time of bereavement. Several large cross-sectional growth and For comparison, the second subject of somatotype studies in children have been Yogyakarta children was measured in 2004, done.12-21 Information on the physique of consisted of 157 boys and 145 girls aged children with short stature is limited and in 8-13-yearold. Yogyakarta is a city located Indonesia the study of somatotype for Pygmy about 950 miles west of Ruteng city,in the children had never been done. The aims of south of central Java and is surrounded by this study were to compare the physiques the Indian Ocean in the south. The latitudinal of Pygmy children inhabited in Rampasasa and longitudinal location of Yogyakarta Hamlet, Waemulu village, District of Waerii, are 7 47 S and 110 22 E. Most of people in Manggarai Regency in Flores Island (East Yogyakarta are civil servants and employees. Nusa Tenggara) and Yogyakarta children; and Ethics approval for this study was obtained to evaluate some factors that might lead to the from the Medical and Health Research Ethics variability in the physiques. Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta. MATERIALS AND METHODS Anthropometric measurements Subjects Ten body measurements were taken in the Cross-sectional data based on a sample morning include height, weight, bicondylar of Rampasasa Pygmy children aged 8 to humerus, bicondylar femur, upper arm 13 years old, consisted of 32 boys and 29 circumference, calf circumference, skinfold girls were collected during April 2007. The at triceps, -subscapula, -suprailiaca, and -calf. Pygmy children were inhabited in Rampasasa The somatotype components of the individual Hamlet, District of Waerii, Waemulu village, subjects were calculated according to the Manggarai Regency in Flores Island. The Heath-Carter anthropometric method using Rampasasa area is situated at 8˚32’ 113’’South the following equations:4,23 and 120˚27’10’’ East. Suriyanto reported that Rampasasa kampong where the Pygmies Endomorphy = - 0.7182 + 0.1451 (X) – live in was inhabited by approximately 207 0.00068 (X2) + 0.0000014 (X3) people (77 males and 103 females).22 Among where X = sum of triceps, subscapular them, 61 children were included in this and supraspinale skinfold.