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Anthropometric, functional and physical activity characteristics of contemporary adult descendants of Upper Silesian immigrants to Texas in the mid-19th century and current residents in Upper Silesia were compared. The sample included 45 residents in Central Texas, 25 women and 20 men, and 36 residents in rural Upper Silesia, 24 women and 12 men, 54-76 years of age. Variables included selected demographic characteristics, anthropometry, estimated body composition, several physiological indicators, strength and functional fitness, and physical activity. Sex-specific MANCOVA and Chi square were used for comparisons. Descendants of Silesian immigrants to Texas were taller, on average, while differences in other anthropometric variables were variable. All residents in Silesia and the majority of descendants of Silesian migrants to Texas were overweight or obese. Differences in hemodynamic and respiratory functions and responses to a 6-minute walk were inconsistent, while none of the fitness variables differed significantly between the samples. Although residents in Upper Silesia were significantly more physically active descendants of Silesians in Texas, >80% of the men and women in both samples scored below the criterion-reference standard for the maintenance of physical independence in the 6-minute walk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in physical dimensions of a sample of lower socioeconomic Mexican American children, ages 6 through 17, from Brownsville, TX, were documented on the basis of surveys done in 1972 and 1983. Results suggest that these youth are similar in growth to other Mexican American youth, and confirm large proportion of relatively short but heavy children among Mexican Americans. (KH)

Context: Evidence indicates higher prevalence of obesity in rural American youth. The present study evaluates the growth status and estimates the prevalence of overweight and obesity among rural school children in Texas. Methods: Heights and weights were measured in a sample of 1,084 school youth (545 males, 539 females) 5-19 years of age, in rural north central Texas in 2010. body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Growth status was plotted relative to US reference data. Weight status (underweight/thin, overweight, and obesity) was classified relative to age- and sex-specific Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) criteria. Concordance of classifications was evaluated. Results: Mean heights of the rural children approximated reference medians, while median weights exceeded reference medians and approximated 75th percentiles with increasing age. Median BMIs of boys and girls were below the 75th percentiles except among late adolescent girls. Prevalence of underweight/thinness was low (<4%). Overweight approximated 20% among boys 6-11 years and 16% among boys 12-19 years with CDC criteria; the opposite was apparent for obesity, 6-11 years, 16%, and 12-19 years, 20%. Approximately, equal percentages of boys in both age groups were classified overweight (∼21-22%) with IOTF criteria, but almost twice as many older (15%) than younger (8%) boys were classified obese. Overweight was less prevalent (∼5%) but obesity more prevalent (∼5%) with CDC compared to IOTF criteria, but both were less prevalent among younger than older girls. Conclusion: Prevalence of overweight and obesity among rural Texas school youth was comparable to national estimates for 2007-2008. The results highlight a need for programs aimed at preventing unhealthy weight gain and/or weight reduction given the tendency of obesity to track from childhood into adulthood and potentially negative health consequences of obesity. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]