HUNTER-GATHERER TO PASTORAL WAY OF LIFE - EFFECTS OF THE TRANSITION ON HEALTH, GROWTH AND NUTRITIONAL-STATUS

In 1967 and 1968, the nutritional status and health of hunter-gatherer San (formerly 'Bushmen') people were studied in north-west Botswana. In 1987, a follow-up study was carried out on the same group of people , whose life style had by then changed to that of pastoralism and depe ndency subsistence. The findings revealed a good stale of general heal th and an improved energy intake that resulted in increased fat stores and better growth of children. Blood pressures were normal, although they were somewhat elevated in older women and there was evidence of i ncrease in the serum cholesterol concentration of the group as a whole . There was no anaemia.