Changes in the body build of students of the Maritime University of Szczecin in 1969-2007

Background: Changes in the human body build over the last century refer to greater and greater body heightbut also to the “plague” of obesity in the period of the last 30 years. The secular trend and excessiveweight gain being observed in societies of rich and developing countries is global in nature. Students ofacademies that traditionally prepare for working at sea on ships have been required until recently to be ofvery good health and physical fitness. Changes in the body build, particularly obesity, may interfere withthe selection of candidates for the profession of seaman in the near future.

Aim: The aim of this study is to characterise the body build of students of the Maritime University of Szczecin.The results of the author’s own research from 2006 and 2007 were compared with those of similaranthropometric studies being published in the literature from previous years (1969–2007).

Materials and methods: The author’s own research material consisted of a group of students of the MaritimeUniversity of Szczecin (n = 171). Anthropometric measurements (body height, body weight, andwaist, hip, and arm circumferences) were made in 2006 and 2007. Based on these anthropometric data,the body mass index and the Rohrer’s index were calculated. Arithmetic means, standard deviations, andrange of variation (min–max) were calculated for all anthropometric measurements and somatic indicesand compared with the results from previous years (1969–2007).

Results and Conclusions: During the analysed years 1969–2007, the examined students of the MaritimeUniversity of Szczecin showed increasing body height and, worryingly, rising body weight and waist andhip circumferences. This is evidence of visceral fatness, which is dangerous for health and increases therisk of cardiovascular diseases. One of the reasons for the changes in the body build is decreasing motoractivity. The increases in the traits being analysed were not steady over time; larger increases in bodyheight occurred in the years of the more stable socio-economic situation in Poland.