Life History theory hypotheses on child growth: Potential implications for short and long-term child growth, development and health

American Journal of Physical Anthropology
Rihlat Said-MohamedShane A Norris

Abstract

Life history theory integrates ecological, physiological, and molecular layers within an evolutionary framework to understand organisms' strategies to optimize survival and reproduction. Two life history hypotheses and their implications for child growth, development, and health (illustrated in the South African context) are reviewed here. One hypothesis suggests that there is an energy trade-off between linear growth and brain growth. Undernutrition in infancy and childhood may trigger adaptive physiological mechanisms prioritizing the brain at the expense of body growth. Another hypothesis is that the period from conception to infancy is a critical window of developmental plasticity of linear growth, the duration of which may vary between and within populations. The transition from infancy to childhood may mark the end of a critical window of opportunity for improving child growth. Both hypotheses emphasize the developmental plasticity of linear growth and the potential determinants of growth variability (including the role of parent-offspring conflict in maternal resources allocation). Implications of these hypotheses in populations with high burdens of undernutrition and infections are discussed. In South Africa, HIV/AIDS d...Continue Reading

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Citations

Dec 24, 2018·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Indrikis KramsMarkus J Rantala
Mar 3, 2020·Women and Birth : Journal of the Australian College of Midwives·Shiwan WangHui Jiang
Jan 20, 2019·Economics and Human Biology·Daniel J HruschkaGert Stulp
Apr 16, 2021·Journal of Public Health Research·Sirajuddin SirajuddinToto Sudargo
May 21, 2021·PloS One·Kahoko Yasumitsu-LovellUNKNOWN Japan Environment and Children’s Study Group

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