Table 2 Sex differences in body parameters of young- and mid-adult Maasai

Young-adults (17–29 years)

Body height

cm

167.5

7.1

155.3

5.4

10.02(115)

1.88

< 0.001

Body weight

kg

55.6

8.5

50.7

9.5

2.87(110)

0.55

0.005

Body mass index (BMI)

kg/m²

19.8

2.2

21.0

3.8

− 2.16(109)

− 0.41

0.033

Handgrip strength

kg

38.4

8.9

26.2

4.7

9.62(110)^a

1.63

< 0.001

Wrist diameter

mm

55.9

3.6

52.0

5.1

4.83(109)

0.92

< 0.001

Upper arm circumference

cm

24.4

2.4

24.2

2.5

0.43(114)

−

0.668

Triceps skinfold

mm

8.7

5.4

13.8

5.4

− 4.97(115)

− 0.94

< 0.001

Under-chest circumference

cm

77.5

4.7

72.8

4.9

5.32(115)

0.98

< 0.001

Hips circumference

cm

87.4

6.3

90.6

5.7

− 2.76(112)

− 0.53

0.007

Facial centroid size

cm

56.0

3.8

51.6

3.4

6.35(116)

1.20

< 0.001

Mid-adults (30–50 years)

Body height

cm

168.1

6.4

156.3

6.1

9.89(114)

1.88

< 0.001

Body weight

kg

56.1

8.7

53.1

9.1

1.81(108)

0.33

0.073

Body mass index (BMI)

kg/m²

19.8

2.4

21.7

3.5

− 3.14(79)^a

− 0.65

0.001

Handgrip strength

kg

37.9

7.9

25.9

5.4

9.14(112)

1.72

< 0.001

Wrist diameter

mm

56.1

3.7

53.2

5.5

3.26(109)

0.64

0.002

Upper arm circumference

cm

24.9

2.3

27.2

9.2

− 1.90(74)^a

− 0.37

0.087

Triceps skinfold

mm

9.0

8.3

16.6

7.5

− 5.10(114)

− 0.95

< 0.001

Under-chest circumference

cm

79.9

5.8

74.7

7.8

4.17(114)

0.77

< 0.001

Hips circumference

cm

89.4

6.3

93.8

7.5

− 3.38(112)

− 0.65

0.001

Facial centroid size

cm

57.9

3.8

53.1

3.4

6.99(114)

1.32

< 0.001