Height variation in Argentina and its socioeconomic dimensions in adults born between 1971-2000 surveyed from the National Risk Factor Survey 2018

Human height is a variable trait that is highly heritable and sensitive to socioeconomic constraints within and between populations. The aim of this work is to describe and characterize adult height in Argentina according to socioeconomic indicators, considering their influence on the geographical distribution of the trait, and to evaluate the impact of these socioeconomic characteristics at two points during ontogeny. This study analyzed 15,840 adults from the National Risk Factors Survey of Argentina. Data were grouped by province, following the regional categorization proposed in the survey. Three socioeconomic indexes and coefficients were considered: Human Development Index, Unsatisfied Basic Needs, and Gini Coefficient. Generalized Mixed Additive Models were used to estimate the impact of exposure to socioeconomic variables on height in two moments of ontogeny, adjusted by sex, including province of birth as a random intercept. Argentina displays a gap in territorial development, with a latitudinal pattern from north and south to the center. The lowest averages in height were observed in the northernmost provinces of Argentina, with extreme socioeconomic conditions. Provinces with high population density conglomerates displayed the lowest stature. The effect of sex was significant but homogeneous across the analyzed developmental intervals. Argentina shows disparities among regions and provinces in the pattern of height variation. Gender-based differences were observed, but no distinctions emerged between different developmental intervals.