COMPARATIVE BIOMETRICAL STUDY OF STATURE AND WEIGHT OF ITALIAN MIGRANTS IN BELGIUM

Stature and weight of 418 men (age range 15 to 57.6 years) of Italian ancestry immigrated in Belgium are studied as a function of age, education, and of profession. Taking account of the variation observed for these factors, the results are analyzed in terms of the geographical origin and of the age at migration. Compared to a reference population, no significant differences are observed between migrants and sedentes: no evidence of selective migration could be demonstrated. Rather, the influences of environmental factors are seen in that the mean heights of Italians born in Belgium and of individuals who migrated before five years of age are significantly higher than the means of the individuals who migrated after five years. Copyright © 1979 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company