Silventoinen Karri
Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland.
J Biosoc Sci. 2003 Apr;35(2):263-85. doi: 10.1017/s0021932003002633.
Final body height is achieved as the result of a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The aim of this article is to review past studies on body height that have followed different scientific traditions. In modern Western societies, about 20% of variation in body height is due to environmental variation. In poorer environments, this proportion is probably larger, with lower heritability of body height as well as larger socioeconomic body height differences. The role of childhood environment is seen in the increase in body height during the 20th century simultaneously with the increase in the standard of living. The most important non-genetic factors affecting growth and adult body height are nutrition and diseases. Short stature is associated with poorer education and lower social position in adulthood. This is mainly due to family background, but other environmental factors in childhood also contribute to this association. Body height is a good indicator of childhood living conditions, not only in developing countries but also in modern Western societies. Future studies combining different scientific traditions in auxology are needed to create a more holistic view of body height.
最终身高是遗传和环境因素共同作用的结果。本文旨在回顾过去遵循不同科学传统的关于身高的研究。在现代西方社会，约20%的身高差异归因于环境差异。在较贫困的环境中，这一比例可能更大，身高的遗传度较低，社会经济方面的身高差异也更大。20世纪身高增长与生活水平提高同步，这体现了童年环境的作用。影响生长和成年身高的最重要非遗传因素是营养和疾病。身材矮小与成年后受教育程度较低和社会地位较低有关。这主要归因于家庭背景，但童年时期的其他环境因素也促成了这种关联。身高不仅在发展中国家，而且在现代西方社会，都是童年生活条件的一个良好指标。未来需要结合人体测量学中不同科学传统的研究，以更全面地看待身高。
