It was demonstrated that the gender factor influences dependent variables such as body height, body weight, waist circumference and lumbar lordosis at a level of statistical significance (p < 0.05) (see Table 2).
Table 2
Significant gender differences in the analysed characteristics of body build and posture between women and men in 2006–2016
Characteristic | Men (n = 840) | Women (n = 1314) | F | P |
| min.-max. | | min.-max. |
BH [cm] | 180.6±6.3 | 161–202 | 168 ± 6.1 | 151.0-189.9 | 444.498 | 0.001* |
BM [kg] | 74.9±12.4 | 49.3–139 | 58.7 ± 8.8 | 39.4-108.5 | 131.066 | 0.001* |
WC [cm] | 82±8.8 | 52–118 | 70.9 ± 6.4 | 59.0-112.0 | 44.299 | 0.001* |
HC [cm] | 80±8.8 | 70,3± | 95.7 ± 6.6 | 78.0-132.0 | 0.375 | 0.544 |
KTH [°] | 37.5±8.5 | 9–64 | 35.7 ± 8.5 | 15.0–62.0 | 0.406 | 0.531 |
LL [°] | 30±9.4 | 4–60 | 34.4 ± 8.6 | 10.0–60.0 | 6.774 | 0.002* |
*statistical significance at p < 0.05 |
The analysis of the absolute values of variability over 10 years of observation of the characteristics of body build and body posture in both groups revealed the highest variability for thoracic kyphosis in both groups, and the lowest for body height in both men and women.
An increasing tendency for body height was observed in men, with a simultaneous decrease in hip and waist circumference. Different values were obtained for women, with body height tending to decrease with a simultaneous increase in hip and waist circumferences (Table 3).
Table 3
Increases in absolute values of the body build and body posture of men and women
in 2006–2016
Participants | BH [cm] | BM [kg] | HC [cm] | WC [cm] | KTH [°] | LL [°] |
Women | -0.37 | 3.62 | 1.14 | 2.96 | 46.87 | 14.64 |
Men | 0.23 | 1.81 | -2.81 | -1.37 | 43.26 | 12.65 |
The analysis of relative increments based on time series of observed characteristics of body build and posture in men allowed for the indication of the largest and smallest changes over the decade. Over 10 years of observation, of all the assessed characteristics of body build and body posture of the men studied, only the angle of kyphosis accelerated each year, and the mean value of development of this characteristic in this period was the highest (KTH10 = 52.65%) and statistically significant. Furthermore, the highest range of variation among the somatic characteristics was found for hip circumference (HC10 = 30.64%). The smallest range of variation occurred for body height (BH10 = 3.13%).
The analysis of relative increments based on time series in the group of women reveals that the greatest changes over the 10-year observation are observed for the angle of thoracic kyphosis (KTH10 = 96.15%) and body weight (BM10 = 14.37%).
The smallest changes during the 10-year observation in women were recorded for body height (BH10 = 3.32%). The variability of both the angle of kyphosis and lordosis was statistically significant (Table 4).
Table 4
Relative increments based on chain indices for body posture and body build in men and women [%].
Characteristics of body build and body posture | men | women |
min. | max. | | min. | max. | |
BH | -1.60 | 1.53 | 3.13% | -2.14 | 1.18 | 3.32% |
BM | -10.13 | 6.84 | 16.97% | -3.40 | 10.97 | 14.37% |
WC | -6.76 | 11.25 | 18.01% | -2.20 | 11.39 | 13.59% |
HC | -24.15 | 6.49 | 30.64% | -4.57 | 5.89 | 10.46% |
LL | -6.00 | 30.01 | 36.01% | -18.25 | 30.95 | 49.20% |
TH | 32.30 | 84.95 | 52.65% | -5.50 | 90.65 | 96.15% |
Analysis of single-base indices in the group of men revealed slight changes in the characteristics of body build. The greatest variability of somatic characteristics was observed in the waist circumference (-2.3%), but it was not statistically significant. Similar significant changes, but of an accelerating nature, were recorded for the angle of thoracic kyphosis where the single-base index was 32.8% (Table 5).
Table 5
Dynamics of the variability of time series for the characteristics of body build and posture in men [%] in terms of single-base indices (Ij) and variable-base indices (Iz) between 2006 and 2016.
Characteristics of body build and body posture | Variable-base index (Iz) min. [%] | Variable-base index (Iz) max.[%] | Single-base index (Ij) until 2006 [%] |
Body height | 2012 to 2011 -3.8 | 2013 to 2012 4.7 | 1.3 |
Body mass | 2013 to 2012 -29.5 | 2012 to 2011 26.8 | 1.2 |
Waist circumference [cm] | 2012 to 2011 -27.2 | 2011 to 2010 24.3 | -2.3 |
Hip circumference [cm] | 2013 to 2012 -51.6 | 2012 to 2011 62.9 | -2.1 |
LL | 2015 to 2014 -57.5 | 2014 to 2013 50.2 | -16.5 |
Th | 2011 to 2010 -37.1 | 2007 to 2006 32.3 | 32.8 |
The single-base indices in the group of women were also analysed. The greatest variability was recorded in the waist circumference (10.7%). The index for the characteristics of body posture shows similar dynamics of variability in the case of thoracic kyphosis (58.9%). (Table 6).
Table 6
Dynamics of variability of time series for the characteristics of body build and posture in women [%] in terms of single-base indices (Ij) and variable-base indices(Iz) between 2006 and 2016.
Characteristics of body build and body posture | Variable-base indices (Iz) min. [%] | Variable-base index (Iz) max. [%] | Single-base index (Ij) until 2006 [%] |
Body height | from 2012 to 2011 -3.5 | from 2013 to 2012 3.2 | − 0.2 |
Body mass | from 2013 to 2012 -15.3 | from 2012 to 2011 15.2 | 7.9 |
Waist circumference [cm] | from 2013 to 2012 -12.4 | from 2012 to 2011 10.2 | 10.7 |
Hip circumference [cm] | from 2013 to 2012 -17.5 | from 2014 to 2013 18.3 | 1.9 |
LL | from 2015 to 2014 -75.1 | from 2014 to 2013 90.7 | 15.1 |
Th | from 2011 to 2010 − 42.4 | from 2015 to 2014 85.2 | 58.9 |
A moderate relationship between body height and the angle of thoracic kyphosis was recorded in the group of men and it was directly proportional (the higher the body height the higher the angle of thoracic kyphosis. Furthermore, a high and statistically significant relationship was observed between the hip circumference and lumbar lordosis in the group of women. This relationship is directly proportional: the larger the hip circumference, the greater the lumbar lordosis (see Table 7). The other assessed characteristics of body build in both groups did not show such a significant relationship with respect to body posture
Table 7
Correlations of the variables of body build and posture in men and women
in a 10-year observation
| Women | Men |
Variable | Angle of kyphosis | Angle of lordosis | Angle of kyphosis | Angle of lordosis |
Height | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.4* | -0.06 |
Body mass | 0.2 | 0.32 | -0.2 | -0.004 |
Waist circumference [cm] | 0.3 | 0.13 | -0.2 | 0.13 |
Hip circumference [cm] | 0.1 | 0.7* | -0.1 | 0.08 |
*statistical significance at p < 0.05 |