Secular Trend in Body Size among College Athletes ANTHONY P. POLEDNAK Birth Defects Institute, State Department of Health, Albany, New York 12208
KEY WORDS
Stature . Physique Growth . Athletes.
ABSTRACT Height and weight were compared across five birth decades (18501899) among 1,121 Harvard athletes who were lettermen in various sports. There were considerable differences in the magnitude of the secular trend among the sport categories (crew, baseball, football, track, ice hockey, and two or more sports). Comparing the 1890-1899 and 1860-1869 birth-cohort samples, football lettermen were 2.6 inches (6.6 cm) taller (p < 0.001) and 20 pounds (9.1 kg) heavier (p < 0.001). Crew lettermen were 2.6 inches taller (p < 0.001) and 8.5 pounds (3.9 kg) heavier (p < 0.05). For lettermen in other sports, changes in mean height and weight were smaller in magnitude. Differential selection for body size may explain the differences in the magnitude of the secular trend when analyzed by specific sport.
Malina ('72) has reported on the in- sium locker. About 85% were Old Amercrease in body size among football players icans (all four grandparents born in the at the University of Texas from 1899 to United States), largely of British ancestry, 1970. The increases in height and weight and another 10% were of immediate Britwere greater than those estimated for the ish or other Northern European ancestry. To ensure greater homogeneity and an young adult general population and for various groups of college students. This sug- opportunity for all subjects to have particgests that men participating in college ipated in college sports, only those men football may have responded differently were included who had spent two or more from the general population to those envi- years at Harvard College. Also, only men ronmental factors believed to underlie the born between 1850 and 1899 were included, secular trend toward increased body size. due to the small number born after 1899 Specifically, it is possible that increased and the absence of anthropometric data on physical training in earlier life (prior to col- some of these men. This reduced the sample lege) could have had some effect on growth, size to 12,569 men. A totalof 1,121 athletes and hence, on the greater secular trend in was identified from a list of athletic awardfootball players. On the other hand, the rel- winners (Blanchard, '23), including letteratively great secular increase in body size winners in crew, baseball, football, track, among college football players (Malina, ice hockey, and two or more of these sports. '72) could reflect selective factors such as A small number of lettermen in tennis and changes in recruiting practices by coaches. golf was not included in this group. As Malina ('72j has observed, data are RESULTS limited on changes in body size among parTable 1 shows the number of athletes in ticipants in sports other than football. The present report considers secular trends in each sport, and mean age (at last birthbody size among college athletes in various day), by birth decade. Table 2 shows height and weight for each sport by birth decade. sports. Since the number of men in the 1850-59 MATERIALS AND METHODS birth decade is small, and the mean age at Initially, the sample included nearly measure is greater than that for later birth 17,000 Harvard men measured anthropo- decades (table l), these men are excluded metrically by D. A. Sargent and two as- from further analysis. The magnitude of the secular change sistants between 1880 and about 1920. All men were applicants for rental of a gymna- in height and weight among the various AM. J. PHYS. ANTHROP., 42:
501-506.
50 1
502
ANTHONY P. POLEDNAK TABLE 1
Age of Harvard athletes b y birth decade and t y p e of sport Birth decade Sport category
Crew Baseball Football Track Ice hockey Two or more Total
1850-59
1860-69
1870-79 Age (yrs.1 Mean S.D.
N
A g e (yrs.) Mean S.D.
N
Age (yrs.1 Mean S.D.
1.5
68 46 51 91 6 35
19.1 1.8 19.2 1.0 19.5 1.6 19.2 1.4 19.5 0.6 18.8 1.6
54 55 74 95 32 38
18.7 0.8 19.6 1.4 19.0 1.4 19.0 1.4 18.9 1.0 19.1 1.2
44 30 50 57 32 29
18.2 18.6 18.6 18.5 18.1 18.5
0.9 1.3 1.2 1.0 1.1 0.9
1.4
297
242
18.4
1.1
Age (yrs.) Mean S.D.
N
A g e (yrs.) Mean S.D.
11 4 7 2
22.0 1.2 21.3 0.6 21.2 0.5 21.5 2.1
39 38 45 55
19.0 19.8 19.4 19.3
4
21.5
1.7
29
19.4
28
21.7
1.3
206
19.4
-
-
o
-
-
1890-99
N
N
o
188049
1.3 1.6 1.4 1.3
sport categories is compared in table 3. The t-test was used in testing the significance of the differences in mean height and weight between the 1860-1869 and 18901899 birth-decade samples. The increase in height is greatest for lettermen in crew and football. Comparing athletes in the 18961899 decade with those in the 1860-1869 decade (table 3), the total increase in mean height was 2.6 inches for crew (p < 0.001) and 2.6 inches for football (p < 0.001). This gives an average increase of about 0.9 inches per decade. For the other sports changes in height across the birth decades are much smaller. For track, mean height increased by 1 . 1 inches from the 1870-1879 to the 1880-1889 birth decade cohort (p < O . O l ) , but then declined slightly. For baseball, there was little change, except for an increase of 0.8 inches from the 1870-1879 to the 1880-1889 birth cohort (not significant). Lettermen in two or more sports showed a slight overall increase - 0.3 inches from the 18661869 to the 18901899 birth cohort. As with height, the greatest increases in weight are for lettermen in crew and football. Comparing athletes in the 18901899 birth decade with those in the 18601869 decade (table 3), the total increase in mean weight was 8.5 pounds for crew (p < 0.05) and 20.0 pounds for football (p < 0.001). Lettermen in track showed an increase of 6.9 pounds from the 18701879 birth cohort to the 1880-1889 birth cohort (p < 0.05). For ice hockey, data are available for the last three birth decades and show a slight overall increase in mean weight.
19.2
1.4
348
19.1
1.3
The decreases in mean height and weight in the last birth decade (1890-1899) in some groups (table 3) could be due in part to the slightly earlier mean age at measurement (table 1). For example, among baseball lettermen the mean age at measure for the 1890-1899 birth decade sample was dne year earlier than that for the 18801889 birth decade sample. The number of subjects is too small for an analysis of the trend by specific age groups across the birth decades. DISCUSSION
Data from North America and Western Europe show an average increase in adult male height of about 0.24 to 0.35 inches (0.6 to 0.9 cm) per decade from about 1870 (Tanner, '62, '68). Data on North American white college men aged 20 years indicate an average increase of about 0.13 to 0.25 inches per decade from about 1875 to 1950 (Meredith, '63). For the present series of college athletic award-winners, the total increase in height from the 1860-1869 to the 1890-1899 birth decade was 1.4 inches (p < O.OOl), or an average of 0.47 inches per decade. Maximal (adult) height some 50 or more years ago was probably not reached until the age of about 26, but is now reached much earlier (Tanner, '62). Since the present subjects were measured at an average age of about 20 years and some as young as 17 years, this earlier maturing effect is undoubtedly involved in the apparent secular trend. Thus, the trend may not be as great as it would appear from table 2. As Damon ('68) has noted, the weight component of body size is sometimes over-
1.4
Total
Twoor Inore
68.6
69.4
-
67.0
Ice hockey
Track
3.0
68.3
Football
2.1
1.4
_
1.6
68.5
Baseball
1.9
S.D.
68.9
Mean
Crew
Sport
1850-59
~
68.8
69.8
_
69.1
68.0
68.4
69.3
Mean
2.4
1.9
_
2.3
2.3
2.5
2.8
S.D.
186049
~~
1890-99
1850-59
1860-69
69.3
69.5
69.6
69.1
70.0
68.3
69.5
2.5
2.3
2.6
2.4
2.7
2.3
2.5
M e a n S.D.
70.1
70.0
69.1
70.2
70.6
69.1
71.0
Mean
2.3
2.6
2.0
2.3
2.2
2.3
1.9
S.D
70.2
70.1
69.3
69.9
70.6
68.4
71.9
Mean
2.4
2.2
2.1
2.5
2.3
2.3
2.0
S.D.
156.3
157.4
-
136.6
155.1
20.9
12.5
-
19.1
28.2
8.5
164.1 145.8
SD.
20.2
Mean
148.8
162.9
_
141.6
148.1
146.8
151.1
Mean
17.7
17.8
_
13.8
15.5
15.5
21.1
S.D.
149.1
156.6
143.5
140.2
165.2
140.3
19.4
17.4
6.1
13.3
21.9
14.7
S.D.
19.3
Mean
151.3
1870-79
Birth d e c a d e 1880-89
Birth d e c a d e 1870-79
W e i g h t (lbs.)
~
Meun height u n d w e i g h t of Haruurd athletes b y b i r t h d e c a d e and t y p e of sport
H e i g h t (in.)
~
TABLE 2
154.5
158.5
145.0
147.1
170.9
145.7
157.1
Mean
18.9
17.4
11.4
15.9
21.4
14.4
12.1
S.D.
1880-89
153.3
158.2
144.7
144.1
168.1
141.0
159.6
Mean
0 W
Cn
18.7
20.7
8.3
15.8
17.5
13.6
15.7
S.D.
1890-99
504
ANTHONY P. POLEDNAK TABLE 3
Comparison of secular changes in meun height and weight among the sport categories Birth decades 1860-69 to 1870-79
1870-79 to 1880-89
Height (in.) 0.2 +0.1 +2.03 0.0
+
Crew Baseball Football Track Ice hockey Two or more Total
Total change 1 8 8 0 4 9 to 1890-99
+ 1.5 3
+ 0.8 + 0.6
- 0.3
f l . 12 - 0.5 0.5
+
0.0 - 0.3 0.2 t0.1
f0.51
+0.8 3
f0.1
- 6.3
f5.8 1 5.4 5.7 f6.91 1.5 1.9
+ + + +
2.5 -4.7 - 2.8 - 3.0 - 0.3 - 0.3
+ 0.3
f5.43
- 1.2
Weight (lbs)
+ 0.2 - 6.5 + 17.1
Crew Baseball Football Track Ice hockey Two or more
- 1.4 -
Total 1 7 2 ~ 3Correspond
to p
KEY WORDS
Stature . Physique Growth . Athletes.
ABSTRACT Height and weight were compared across five birth decades (18501899) among 1,121 Harvard athletes who were lettermen in various sports. There were considerable differences in the magnitude of the secular trend among the sport categories (crew, baseball, football, track, ice hockey, and two or more sports). Comparing the 1890-1899 and 1860-1869 birth-cohort samples, football lettermen were 2.6 inches (6.6 cm) taller (p < 0.001) and 20 pounds (9.1 kg) heavier (p < 0.001). Crew lettermen were 2.6 inches taller (p < 0.001) and 8.5 pounds (3.9 kg) heavier (p < 0.05). For lettermen in other sports, changes in mean height and weight were smaller in magnitude. Differential selection for body size may explain the differences in the magnitude of the secular trend when analyzed by specific sport.
Malina ('72) has reported on the in- sium locker. About 85% were Old Amercrease in body size among football players icans (all four grandparents born in the at the University of Texas from 1899 to United States), largely of British ancestry, 1970. The increases in height and weight and another 10% were of immediate Britwere greater than those estimated for the ish or other Northern European ancestry. To ensure greater homogeneity and an young adult general population and for various groups of college students. This sug- opportunity for all subjects to have particgests that men participating in college ipated in college sports, only those men football may have responded differently were included who had spent two or more from the general population to those envi- years at Harvard College. Also, only men ronmental factors believed to underlie the born between 1850 and 1899 were included, secular trend toward increased body size. due to the small number born after 1899 Specifically, it is possible that increased and the absence of anthropometric data on physical training in earlier life (prior to col- some of these men. This reduced the sample lege) could have had some effect on growth, size to 12,569 men. A totalof 1,121 athletes and hence, on the greater secular trend in was identified from a list of athletic awardfootball players. On the other hand, the rel- winners (Blanchard, '23), including letteratively great secular increase in body size winners in crew, baseball, football, track, among college football players (Malina, ice hockey, and two or more of these sports. '72) could reflect selective factors such as A small number of lettermen in tennis and changes in recruiting practices by coaches. golf was not included in this group. As Malina ('72j has observed, data are RESULTS limited on changes in body size among parTable 1 shows the number of athletes in ticipants in sports other than football. The present report considers secular trends in each sport, and mean age (at last birthbody size among college athletes in various day), by birth decade. Table 2 shows height and weight for each sport by birth decade. sports. Since the number of men in the 1850-59 MATERIALS AND METHODS birth decade is small, and the mean age at Initially, the sample included nearly measure is greater than that for later birth 17,000 Harvard men measured anthropo- decades (table l), these men are excluded metrically by D. A. Sargent and two as- from further analysis. The magnitude of the secular change sistants between 1880 and about 1920. All men were applicants for rental of a gymna- in height and weight among the various AM. J. PHYS. ANTHROP., 42:
501-506.
50 1
502
ANTHONY P. POLEDNAK TABLE 1
Age of Harvard athletes b y birth decade and t y p e of sport Birth decade Sport category
Crew Baseball Football Track Ice hockey Two or more Total
1850-59
1860-69
1870-79 Age (yrs.1 Mean S.D.
N
A g e (yrs.) Mean S.D.
N
Age (yrs.1 Mean S.D.
1.5
68 46 51 91 6 35
19.1 1.8 19.2 1.0 19.5 1.6 19.2 1.4 19.5 0.6 18.8 1.6
54 55 74 95 32 38
18.7 0.8 19.6 1.4 19.0 1.4 19.0 1.4 18.9 1.0 19.1 1.2
44 30 50 57 32 29
18.2 18.6 18.6 18.5 18.1 18.5
0.9 1.3 1.2 1.0 1.1 0.9
1.4
297
242
18.4
1.1
Age (yrs.) Mean S.D.
N
A g e (yrs.) Mean S.D.
11 4 7 2
22.0 1.2 21.3 0.6 21.2 0.5 21.5 2.1
39 38 45 55
19.0 19.8 19.4 19.3
4
21.5
1.7
29
19.4
28
21.7
1.3
206
19.4
-
-
o
-
-
1890-99
N
N
o
188049
1.3 1.6 1.4 1.3
sport categories is compared in table 3. The t-test was used in testing the significance of the differences in mean height and weight between the 1860-1869 and 18901899 birth-decade samples. The increase in height is greatest for lettermen in crew and football. Comparing athletes in the 18961899 decade with those in the 1860-1869 decade (table 3), the total increase in mean height was 2.6 inches for crew (p < 0.001) and 2.6 inches for football (p < 0.001). This gives an average increase of about 0.9 inches per decade. For the other sports changes in height across the birth decades are much smaller. For track, mean height increased by 1 . 1 inches from the 1870-1879 to the 1880-1889 birth decade cohort (p < O . O l ) , but then declined slightly. For baseball, there was little change, except for an increase of 0.8 inches from the 1870-1879 to the 1880-1889 birth cohort (not significant). Lettermen in two or more sports showed a slight overall increase - 0.3 inches from the 18661869 to the 18901899 birth cohort. As with height, the greatest increases in weight are for lettermen in crew and football. Comparing athletes in the 18901899 birth decade with those in the 18601869 decade (table 3), the total increase in mean weight was 8.5 pounds for crew (p < 0.05) and 20.0 pounds for football (p < 0.001). Lettermen in track showed an increase of 6.9 pounds from the 18701879 birth cohort to the 1880-1889 birth cohort (p < 0.05). For ice hockey, data are available for the last three birth decades and show a slight overall increase in mean weight.
19.2
1.4
348
19.1
1.3
The decreases in mean height and weight in the last birth decade (1890-1899) in some groups (table 3) could be due in part to the slightly earlier mean age at measurement (table 1). For example, among baseball lettermen the mean age at measure for the 1890-1899 birth decade sample was dne year earlier than that for the 18801889 birth decade sample. The number of subjects is too small for an analysis of the trend by specific age groups across the birth decades. DISCUSSION
Data from North America and Western Europe show an average increase in adult male height of about 0.24 to 0.35 inches (0.6 to 0.9 cm) per decade from about 1870 (Tanner, '62, '68). Data on North American white college men aged 20 years indicate an average increase of about 0.13 to 0.25 inches per decade from about 1875 to 1950 (Meredith, '63). For the present series of college athletic award-winners, the total increase in height from the 1860-1869 to the 1890-1899 birth decade was 1.4 inches (p < O.OOl), or an average of 0.47 inches per decade. Maximal (adult) height some 50 or more years ago was probably not reached until the age of about 26, but is now reached much earlier (Tanner, '62). Since the present subjects were measured at an average age of about 20 years and some as young as 17 years, this earlier maturing effect is undoubtedly involved in the apparent secular trend. Thus, the trend may not be as great as it would appear from table 2. As Damon ('68) has noted, the weight component of body size is sometimes over-
1.4
Total
Twoor Inore
68.6
69.4
-
67.0
Ice hockey
Track
3.0
68.3
Football
2.1
1.4
_
1.6
68.5
Baseball
1.9
S.D.
68.9
Mean
Crew
Sport
1850-59
~
68.8
69.8
_
69.1
68.0
68.4
69.3
Mean
2.4
1.9
_
2.3
2.3
2.5
2.8
S.D.
186049
~~
1890-99
1850-59
1860-69
69.3
69.5
69.6
69.1
70.0
68.3
69.5
2.5
2.3
2.6
2.4
2.7
2.3
2.5
M e a n S.D.
70.1
70.0
69.1
70.2
70.6
69.1
71.0
Mean
2.3
2.6
2.0
2.3
2.2
2.3
1.9
S.D
70.2
70.1
69.3
69.9
70.6
68.4
71.9
Mean
2.4
2.2
2.1
2.5
2.3
2.3
2.0
S.D.
156.3
157.4
-
136.6
155.1
20.9
12.5
-
19.1
28.2
8.5
164.1 145.8
SD.
20.2
Mean
148.8
162.9
_
141.6
148.1
146.8
151.1
Mean
17.7
17.8
_
13.8
15.5
15.5
21.1
S.D.
149.1
156.6
143.5
140.2
165.2
140.3
19.4
17.4
6.1
13.3
21.9
14.7
S.D.
19.3
Mean
151.3
1870-79
Birth d e c a d e 1880-89
Birth d e c a d e 1870-79
W e i g h t (lbs.)
~
Meun height u n d w e i g h t of Haruurd athletes b y b i r t h d e c a d e and t y p e of sport
H e i g h t (in.)
~
TABLE 2
154.5
158.5
145.0
147.1
170.9
145.7
157.1
Mean
18.9
17.4
11.4
15.9
21.4
14.4
12.1
S.D.
1880-89
153.3
158.2
144.7
144.1
168.1
141.0
159.6
Mean
0 W
Cn
18.7
20.7
8.3
15.8
17.5
13.6
15.7
S.D.
1890-99
504
ANTHONY P. POLEDNAK TABLE 3
Comparison of secular changes in meun height and weight among the sport categories Birth decades 1860-69 to 1870-79
1870-79 to 1880-89
Height (in.) 0.2 +0.1 +2.03 0.0
+
Crew Baseball Football Track Ice hockey Two or more Total
Total change 1 8 8 0 4 9 to 1890-99
+ 1.5 3
+ 0.8 + 0.6
- 0.3
f l . 12 - 0.5 0.5
+
0.0 - 0.3 0.2 t0.1
f0.51
+0.8 3
f0.1
- 6.3
f5.8 1 5.4 5.7 f6.91 1.5 1.9
+ + + +
2.5 -4.7 - 2.8 - 3.0 - 0.3 - 0.3
+ 0.3
f5.43
- 1.2
Weight (lbs)
+ 0.2 - 6.5 + 17.1
Crew Baseball Football Track Ice hockey Two or more
- 1.4 -
Total 1 7 2 ~ 3Correspond
to p
