ANTHROPOMETRY AND LUNG-FUNCTION OF 10-YEAR-OLD TO 12-YEAR-OLD BOLIVIAN BOYS

Anthropometric measurements of 23 HAHSES, 44 HALSES, 43 LAHSES, and 28 LALSES boys (see Introduction to this Supplement) are presented here. They include body height (I-T), body weight (BW), upper arm circumfer ence (UAC), and skinfold thickness taken at four locations. From these measurements, body fat, lean body mass, and body mass index (BMI = BW /H-2) were calculated. The degree of maturation was assessed according to Tanner, orchidometry, and by quantification of testosterone in sal iva. Lung function data include: vital capacity (VC), forced expired v olume per 1 s (FEV(1)), functional residual capacity (FRC), residual v olume (RV), and total lung capacity (TLC). The results show enhanced l ung Volumes in both HA groups in comparison to LA groups, with HALSES boys having the greatest increase, even though the LSES boys were sign ificantly smaller compared to the HSES boys at both altitudes and thei r growth was delayed by approximately 2 years. From the anthropometric data it appears that physical growth of prepubertal boys is dependent on SES but not on high-altitude exposure. We tentatively conclude tha t chronic hypoxia per se does not affect physical growth in prepuberta l boys in an Andean environment and that development of lung function is accelerated in relation to linear growth as has been suggested by o ther authors (15).