Aging of selected groups of the Yucatecan population

This project is based on cross-sectional studies of Merida and vicinity residents, Yucatán, Mexico. In 1994, 364 men and 320 women aged 20-98 years were measured. Most of them were purely Mayas. The analysis included 3 phenomena: secular trend in height, sexual dimorphism index in height which assess living conditions, and age at menarche in women. From the literature, it is known about the living conditions of Maya men and women at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Haciendas producing henequen were based on the work of men and despite very bad living conditions, the owners took care of their health. Women were treated very badly. After the Mexican revolution, the whole industry related to production of henequen collapsed. Mayan living conditions improved a little, but at the end of the 20th century the biological status of men did not change, but improved somewhat in women. This is the reason why Maya women gain greater height, despite the lack of acceleration in maturation.<br><br>