ANTHROPOMETRIC PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE OCCUPATIONS OF AL-FOGGARAOF ADRARPROVINCE, ALGERIA: AN ANTHROPO-PHYSIOLOGICAL APPROACH

This study aims to analyze the anthropometric characteristics of a sample of al-Foggaraworkers in the Adrar region, considering it a traditional and physically demanding occupation practiced in harsh Saharan environments. A descriptive-analytical methodology was adopted, using field-based anthropometric measurements including height, weight, arm circumference, chest girth, and fat percentage, in addition to statistical tools such as mean, T-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient. The results revealed a mesomorphic-lean physical profile among the participants, strongly related to years of experience. The desert environment was also shown to influence specific physiological adaptations. These findings highlight the importance of recognizing this group within high-effort labor categories. The study recommends integrating anthropometric assessments into occupational health strategies and expanding anthropometric research to include traditional local occupations. In the core of the Algerian desert, particularly in the wilaya of Adrar Province, Algeria, the interaction between humans and the land is manifested in a distinctive work pattern associated with an underground water resource referred to locally as "al-Foggara." This practice, undertaken by local community members, is contingent upon specific environmental and professional conditions, necessitating repeated physical exertion and resilience to severe climatic and spatial circumstances.