Sexual dimorphism in stature of adult Northern Nigerians

Abstract

The present study investigated sexual dimorphism in stature (height) of a population of northern Nigerians resident in the Ilorin Township. The study population comprised two hundred and fifty (250) young adults; this consisted of 150 males and 100 females, aged 18 –29 years. In each subject, height was measured using the Avery height and weight scale; from the data obtained, absolute and relative sex difference in stature were extrapolated. A value of 5.5% was obtained for relative sex difference in stature of the study population; this indicates that northern Nigerians have the least sexual dimorphism in stature when compared to the values of 5.9% and 5.7% earlier reported for western and eastern Nigerians respectively. The regional variation in sex dimorphism in stature of adult Nigerians, as observed in this study, was possibly due to a combination of nutritional, socio-economic and genetic factors.

Keywords: sexual dimorphism in adult stature

The Tropical Journal of Health Sciences Vol. 13(1) 2006: 33-35