Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
secular trend
References
Britannica AI Icon

secular trend

human growth
Written by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last updated

Quick Summary

The "secular trend" refers to the observed increase in average human height over generations, particularly noticeable since the 19th century. This trend is a significant aspect of human growth and development.12

Key factors contributing to the secular trend include:
* Improved Nutrition: Better access to protein, calories, vitamins, and minerals is crucial for bone formation and overall growth.2
* Enhanced Health Care: Reduced disease burden and better medical care support healthier development.2
* Earlier Maturation: Children are reaching puberty and their adult height at earlier ages.1

While genetics plays a substantial role in determining an individual's height, environmental factors like nutrition and health have driven the secular trend of increasing average stature across populations. This trend has largely stabilized in some developed nations but continues in others where living conditions are still improving.2

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
4 Britannica Sources
  1. height
  2. human development - Larger size and earlier maturation
  3. birth control - The population explosion
  4. population growth

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.