RESUMEN
Objective To investigate the somatotype characteristics of Dong adults in rural areas of Hu'nan province. Methods The Heath-Carter somatotyping method was used to study the somatotype of 749 adults (304 males and 445 females) of Dong in the rural areas of Hu'nan. Results The mean somatotype in males of Dong was endomorph- mesomorph category (4.83-4.95-1.80) and was mesomorphic endomorph category (6.09-4.68-1.37) in females. With their age increasing, the values of endomorphy decreases gradually in males, the values of endomorphy of females and mesomorphy of males and females increased at first and then decreased gradually, the values of ectomorphy of males and females decreased at first and then increased. The values of endomorphy of males were significantly lower than those of females with the same age groups, and the values of mesomorphy and the values of ectomorphy of males were significantly higher than those of females in some age groups. Compared with other ethnic groups, the values of endomorphy of Dong were larger, the values of mesomorphy were smaller, and the values of ectomorphy were in a middle level. Conclusion Adults of Dong in Hu'nan have thick subcutaneous fat, underdeveloped skeletal and muscular systems, and medium linearity. The somatotype of Dong adults in Hu'nan is close to that of Jiangsu Han, Fujian Han and Liaoning Han.
RESUMEN
Objective: To investigate the somatotype characteristics of rural Tujia adults in Hu'nan. Methods: The Heath-Carter somatotyping method was used to study the somatotype of 976 adults (528 males and 448 females) of Tujia in the rural areas of Hu' nan. Results: The mean somatotype in males of Tujia was endomorphic mesomorph category (3.43-5.35-1.61) and was endomorph-mesomorph category (5.18-5.38-1.01) in females. With their age increasing, the values of endomorphy and mesomorphy increased at first and then gradually decreased both males and females, and the values of ectomorphy decreased at first and then increased. The values of endomorphy of males in all age groups were significantly lower than those of females with the same ages, the values of mesomorphy of males showed no significant difference compared with those of females, and the values of ectomorphy of males were significantly higher than those of females in most age groups with the same ages. Conclusion: Tujia adults have a strong physique and developed skeleton muscles, male body is relatively slender, and female subcutaneous fat is more developed and buxom. The somatotype of Tujia adults have a higher mesomorphy, a lower endomorphy and ectomorphy among 30 rural ethnic groups, which are close to those of Muya and Ersu.