Human Auxology at Lomonosov Moscow State University: Problems and Perspectives

Introduction. The history of the development of human auxology at Lomonosov Moscow State University as one of the areas of biological anthropology is discussed. Results and discussion. The main achievements of the university auxological school in the 21st century are analyzed against the background of similar research carried out by foreign scientists. The main attention is paid to the influence of climatic, socio-economic, psycho-emotional factors on the processes of growth and development. A special place in the works of the MSU auxologists is occupied by the problems of secular changes in morphofunctional characteristics. Russian scientists have obtained new original results regarding the direction and rates of these changes at different stages of the human life cycle. In particular, unlike previous decades, the transformation of the vector of these changes towards macrosomic physique in children, adolescents and young adults, an increase in fat mass, a decrease in skeletal mass and physical strength of the body was demonstrated. These results generally corresponds to global trends observed in other countries. The data on secular changes in body composition components, the effect of different diseases on physical characteristics, the development of reference graphs, tables and other means of assessing and diagnosing individual and group growth patterns are analyzed. Another important aspect of the MSU auxological studies deals with the impact of physical activity on the somatic status of children and adolescents, as well as some vectors of the secular trend in athletes. Conclusion. Russian auxologists have obtained new original results regarding the direction and rates of secular changes at different stages of the human life cycle. Auxological investigations at Lomonosov Moscow State University include also applied research aspects of significant practical importance, in particular for a number of branches of medicine and sports science. Possible prospects for future auxological research are presented, including continuation of secular trend studies, the impact of psychoemotional factors on growth and development, expanding research in the field of sports anthropology, improving methodological support, and working with archival materials. © 2024. This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license