Anthropometric characteristics and body composition of Ainu and other Japanese: Comparison with other racial groups
Abstract The Ainu of Hokkaido are metrically a population of short to medium stature. Compared to a diversity of other samples (Hindus, Japanese, Chinese, Canadian Eskimos and U. S. whites) Ainus tend to have a large surface area of the head and feet. The Ainu head tends to be large both in vertex‐c...
| Published in: | American Journal of Physical Anthropology |
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
1979
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.1330500314 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fajpa.1330500314 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ajpa.1330500314 |
| Summary: | Abstract The Ainu of Hokkaido are metrically a population of short to medium stature. Compared to a diversity of other samples (Hindus, Japanese, Chinese, Canadian Eskimos and U. S. whites) Ainus tend to have a large surface area of the head and feet. The Ainu head tends to be large both in vertex‐chin dimensions and in coronal measurement, and the subcutaneous layer tends to be thick at both the cheek and chin. Ainus especially resemble Eskimos in their combination of a large head and small thighs. The percentage of body fat was estimated from deuterium oxide space in Ainu men and women. These percentages were closely comparable to those in other young adult samples in several ethnic groups, including a greater percentage of fat in Ainu females than in males. Although the body weight/height ratio and percentages of body fat in young Ainu adults indicate a satisfactory balance of caloric nutriture, their short stature suggests that their nutriture during gestation and childhood may be inadequate. Ainu adults show a relatively small sexual dimorphism of body weight. |
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