Ageing and secular changes in adult stature of Jat-Sikh and Bania females of Punjab (India).

Stature, sitting height and subischial length in a cross-sectional sample of 502 Jat-Sikh and 510 Bania females of Punjab ranging in age from 20 to 80 years, have been studied. It has been possible to separate out statural decrease due to ageing from secular effects by taking into consideration the subischial length, which is least affected by ageing. The rate of loss in stature obtained due to ageing is 0.0997 +/- 0.012 cm/yr in Jat-Sikh females and 0.127 +/- 0.012 cm/yr in Bania females. After adjusting the stature for ageing, the secular estimate obtained is 0.051 +/- 0.022 cm/yr in Jat-Sikh and 0.047 +/- 0.021 cm/yr in Bania females. The ageing and secular estimates obtained per year in both the communities are significantly different from zero at 5% level. The ageing estimate obtained per year is more in Bania females, whereas the secular estimate per year is larger in Jat-Sikh females, although non-significant.