The physical growth of high altitude Bolivian Aymara children.

This study describes the growth characteristics of Aymara children living in Ancoraimes, Bolivia at altitudes between 3800 and 4000 meters. Anthropometric measurements were made on 510 children between the ages of 6.0 and 20.9 years, 360 males and 150 females. The growth pattern of Ancoraimes Aymara children is very similar to that of other high altitude Andean populations. They are greatly delayed in height and weight, exhibit little sexual dimorphism in body size and, relative to stature, have larger chest dimensions than U.S. children. Compared to Quechua children living at higher altitudes in Peru, Ancoraimes children tend to be taller and heavier but have significantly smaller chest dimensions. Although the causes of the size differences between these two groups are not entirely clear, they may be due to the different altitudes at which the groups reside.