Heights and Weights of Indigenes of the Western Highlands District, New Guinea

IT is generally agreed that the height of an individual is determined mainly by genetic factors. However, there is evidence that the time taken to reach the genetic height may be influenced by environment, especially by nutrition and disease (Tanner, 1955 ; Acheson, i960). Weight is dependent mainly on nutritional factors, although some genetic component is probably also in operation. Various formulae to correlate the two parameters have been used. In population studies it is possible to demonstrate differences in mean heights of adults from different areas. These studies also enable a comparison of the rate of growth in different populations and this has been used by some workers as an index of nutrition (Venkatachalam, 1962). The ratios of heights and weights have been used in nutrition surveys. In this paper, the heights and weights of 804 subjects from the Western Highlands District are analyzed and compared with corresponding values from other parts of the Territory.