In Papua New Guinea growth is slow and adult body size is small. This is often considered an adaptation to the low energy and nutrient densities of the diets in which tubers and root crops predominate. Social and economic change have been a feature of Papua New Guinea, particularly in recent times. In 1969 the human biology of two contrasting communities, one coastal with a long interaction with external influences and cash cropping, the other a highland community with a history of more recent contacts, was investigated. In 1984 repeat measurements of nutritional anthropometry were made on the villagers and those born in the previous 14 years. The coastal boys and girls were taller and heavier in 1984 compared with 1969 but remained below the 5th percentile of reference North American data. Increases were also found in the highland children, particularly girls, but significantly lower means were found in children under 2 years. Although stunting was less common in the coastal children in 1984, 156 cases (37%) versus 175 cases (43%) (chi 2 = 7.69, rho < 0.05), wasting increased in prevalence from 11 cases (3%) to 20 cases (5%) (n.s.), either because of recent food shortages or because height change was greater than weight change. Stunting rose by 3% to 53% (165 cases) in highland children (chi 2 = 7.24, p < 0.05). In adults, heights were 2-3 cm greater in 1984 than 1969, and weights 2-3 kg greater, with peak differences in the 30-39-year-olds. The percentage of coastal women with body mass indices of less than 18.5 kg/m2 fell from 32% to 15% (chi 2 = 27.4, p < 0.01). Mid-upper arm circumferences and triceps skinfolds were significantly higher in all groups. National and regional data suggest that the communities were better off in 1984 than 1969, but social and economic changes were associated with variable benefits in growth and nutritional status.
PIP: The slow growth, short stature, and light weight characteristic of populations in Papua New Guinea are generally assumed to reflect an adaptation to the low energy and nutrient densities of diets in which tubers and root crops predominate. In recent years, however, Papua New Guinea has moved toward cash-cropping, food import, and a cash economy. To assess the effects of modernization on growth and nutritional anthropometry, a large multidisciplinary study of an island (Kaul) and a highland (Lufa) community conducted in 1969 was replicated in 1984. 62% of those in the first study were available for remeasurement. Although the coastal children born during 1970-84 were taller in 1984 than their 1969 counterparts, they remained below the 5th percentile of reference North American data. Height increases also occurred over time in the highland children, especially among girls, but means were significantly lower in 1984 than 1969 in those under 2 years of age. Anthropometric deficits were greatest at about 15 years of age in both communities. The incidence of stunting in coastal children declined from 43% in 1969 to 37% in 1984, but wasting increased from 3% to 5%. In highland children, stunting rose from 50% to 53%; there was no wasting. In adults, heights were 2-3 cm greater in 1984 than in 1969 and weights increased by 2-3 kg. The percentage of coastal women with a body mass index under 18.5 kg/m2 decreased from 32% to 15% between studies and significant improvements in mid-arm circumferences and triceps skinfold were recorded in all groups. Although drought-induced, curtailed garden productivity and infectious diseases may have deflated the magnitude of change since 1969, these findings suggest that modernization has not had the expected dramatic effect on nutritional status in Papua New Guinea.