The observed pattern of growth in any individual reflects both that person's genetic potential for growth and the extent to which an optimization of environmental factors such as nutrition and mental health has allowed the realization of this potential. The course of growth is also influenced by the timing of puberty. An advance in the age of puberty tends to increase the size of young children, thereby exaggerating any secular trend to an increase of size among the prepubertal segment of a population. But because of earlier epiphyseal closure, an advance of puberty may also limit adult dimensions. Other factors such as increasing kyphosis, the compression of intervertebral discs, osteoporosis and vertebral collapse lead to a progressive decrease in an individual's stature over the span of adult life. These factors, again, may have some inherited component, but are certainly susceptible also to changes of personal environment.

The present chapter examines available information on the growth and development of circumpolar populations, noting limitations of the cross-sectional and semi-longitudinal methodologies that have commonly been employed to date. The influence of acculturation to a ‘modern’ lifestyle is also explored, looking not only at alterations in growth curves, but also at changes in the age of puberty, and secular trends in adult stature.

Limitations of cross-sectional and semi-longitudinal surveys

Because of the logistic problems of conducting longitudinal surveys in the arctic, the majority of investigators have been content to apply cross-sectional methodologies (Auger et al., 1980; Jamison, 1990; Rode & Shephard, 1973e, 1984b, 1994c; Stewart, 1939; Zammit, 1993).