The heights and weights of 2,233 randomly selected adult Nilotic immigrants from Southern Sudan (50.8% Dinkas, 43.8% Nuers, 3.4% Anuaks and 2.0% Shilluks) that have settled in Itang, Southwestern Ethiopia were measured. The mean height, weight and body mass index [BMI = weight(kg)/the square of height(m2)] of men (N = 1,1618) were 175.9 + 9 cm) (± SD), 59.7 ± 8 kg, and 19.4 ± 2, respectively, and those of women (N = 615) were 169.0 ± 7 cm, 54.0 ± 8 kg, and 19.1 ± 3, respectively. The mean height of Dinka men (176.4 ± 9 cm) and Nuer men (175.7 ± 9 cm) were significantly heigher than that of Anuak men (171.7 ± 8 cm) and Shilluk men (172.6 ± 6.1 cm). The Nuer women's mean height, weight and BMI were significantly lower than those of the other tribes'. This study confirms that the Nilotics in Southern Sudan have slender bodies and are amongst the tallest in the world, and may attain greater height if priviledged with favourable environmental conditions during early childhood and adolescence, allowing full expression of the genetic material.

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immigrant human Refugees Ethnic Groups Negroid Race Adolescent male female Article Ethiopia adult body weight anthropometry body mass body height Body Mass Index Reference Values Middle Age Sudan