Partitioning the effects of secular trend and ageing on adult stature

The problem of separating the effects of secular trend and age‐associated loss on adult stature was investigated by using tibia length as a reference. Anthropometric stature and radiogrammetric tibia measurements were made on 288 Southwestern Ohio adults. Estimated statural loss was calculated by use of regression equations for the age of maximum statural attainment and age specific tibia lengths. To test the validity of the approach, these results were then compared with actual longitudinally‐derived statural loss values for females in the same population. Measured and estimated loss values were in good agreement and it is suggested that the method proposed in this paper can be a useful tool in partitioning the statural variation due to secular trend and ageing in adult cross‐sectional surveys.