Turkish migrants adjust body height during adolescence to the host community in Germany

Background Investigating migration is crucial for understanding population changes and their impact on growth. Migration and its associated Social-Economic-Political-Emotional (SEPE) factors can influence height, aligning with the theory of “developmental plasticity”, which suggests that environmental stimuli affect growth patterns. Objective This study aims to analyse the impact of migration and associated stress on the growth and development of first- and second-generation migrant children in Germany. Sample and Methods The analysis utilized the KiGGS (German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents) dataset, collected by the RKI (Robert Koch-Institut, the central public health institute in Germany) between 2003 and 2006. The baseline survey included anthropometric, demographic, and social data from 8,986 males and 8,654 females, aged 0–17 years across 167 cities in Germany. Height data from first- and second-generation Turkish-origin children and their German-origin peers were analysed to assess differences in growth patterns. Results Differences in height were observed between first- and second-generation immigrant children of Turkish origin compared to German-origin peers. Second-generation boys aged 3–10 (heightSDS=-0.29) were shorter than German-origin peers (heightSDS=0.04). First-generation boys in this group were even shorter (heightSDS=-0.19). In the 11–17 group, second-generation boys showed a heightSDS of 0.12, above their German-origin counterparts (height SDS=0.06), while first-generation boys were notably shorter (heightSDS=-0.54). For children (aged 3–10) and adolescents (aged 11–17) of both sexes, no significant differences were found between the first and second generations. Conclusion Migration and associated environmental factors impact children’s height, highlighting the complexity of generational shifts in physical growth.