Abstract:

inequality in net nutritional status, measured through the average adult male height, and its evolution, is still unknown as far as Spain in the late XVIII century is concerned.

Objective:

assess social and occupational differences in the average adult male height of cohorts born in the late 18th century and their evolution over time.

Method:

analysis of anthropometric data provided by a general conscription which took place in 1808 in the ancient province of Toledo. This source includes the age, height, and profession of all men living in a giving community with an age included between 16 and 40 years as far as 90 communities are concerned. Only data for adult population (more than 21 years old) are used in this investigation. n = 8.029.

Results:

differences of almost 5 cm between the tallest group - landowners and people working in high-skilled services- and the shortest - servants - are detected. These differences show a gradient related to the access to the property of land, the educational status and the professional qualification. The Coefficient of Variation shows a trend to higher inequality during this period.

Conclusion:

inequality in the net nutritional status of adult population was high and increased during the period considered in this study. Inequality within some socio-professional groups, such as farmers and craftsmen, also increased, while it did not show major changes in the other groups. The trend which emerges from the data can be explained by the increasing economic inequality, the relative increase in food prices and the fall in the incomes of certain social groups.

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