Abstract

MARTINEZ-CARRION, José M.; CAMARA, Antonio D.  and  RAMON MUNOZ, Josep Maria. Nutrition, growth and inequality in the long term: what does anthropometric history teach about Spain?. Nutr. Hosp. [online]. 2018, vol.35, n.spe5, pp.1-10.  Epub July 06, 2020. ISSN 1699-5198.  https://dx.doi.org/10.20960/nh.2078.

This article underlines the relevance of anthropometric history among the disciplines concerned with health and nutrition. The examination of changes on the nutritional status and inequality in Spain focused the 4th Anthropometric History Workshop held at the beginning of 2018 where 18 original contributions were presented and discussed.

We first show the ability of human stature to approach the impact of socioeconomic processes and environmental changes on the nutritional status over the last centuries. Then it is proceeded to present the main contents and advances achieved in the workshop. The papers coped with diverse dimensions of inequality regarding nutritional health and its determinants since the end of the 18th century until 2015. Aside of height and weight at different ages, principally adult ones, others anthropometric indicators were analyzed such as sexual dimorphism and low weight at birth. The results illustrate the large prevalence of malnutrition and social inequality in past Spain. These problems persisted over a good part of the 20th century (i.e. stunting) and, they acquired a different nature since the 1980s as the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity reveals.

It is concluded that the determinants of nutritional status and health-related inequalities request multidimensional approaches and the dialogue between social sciences and biomedical sciences. Knowing about their dimensions in the past and their evolution over time provides a valuable basis in order to understand current problems in these areas and to address future public policies more adequately on childhood and adolescence.

Keywords : Anthropometric history; Nutritional status; Health; Height; Inequality; Spain.

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