Productivity loss associated with functional disability in a contemporary small-scale subsistence population
In comparative cross-species perspective, humans experience unique physical impairments with potentially large consequences. Quantifying the burden of impairment in subsistence populations is critical for understanding selection pressures underlying strategies that minimize risk of production defici...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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eLife Sciences Publications Ltd
2020-12-01
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| Series: | eLife |
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| Online Access: | https://elifesciences.org/articles/62883 |
| _version_ | 1811202680436031488 |
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| author | Jonathan Stieglitz Paul L Hooper Benjamin C Trumble Hillard Kaplan Michael D Gurven |
| author_facet | Jonathan Stieglitz Paul L Hooper Benjamin C Trumble Hillard Kaplan Michael D Gurven |
| author_sort | Jonathan Stieglitz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In comparative cross-species perspective, humans experience unique physical impairments with potentially large consequences. Quantifying the burden of impairment in subsistence populations is critical for understanding selection pressures underlying strategies that minimize risk of production deficits. We examine among forager-horticulturalists whether compromised bone strength (indicated by fracture and lower bone mineral density, BMD) is associated with subsistence task cessation. We also estimate the magnitude of productivity losses associated with compromised bone strength. Fracture is associated with cessation of hunting, tree chopping, and walking long distances, but not tool manufacture. Age-specific productivity losses from hunting cessation associated with fracture and lower BMD are substantial: ~397 lost kcals/day, with expected future losses of up to 1.9 million kcals (22% of expected production). Productivity loss is thus substantial for high strength and endurance tasks. Determining the extent to which impairment obstructs productivity in contemporary subsistence populations improves our ability to infer past consequences of impairment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T02:42:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-11576d29f4384b9fa6f83645fd294946 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-084X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T02:42:40Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | eLife Sciences Publications Ltd |
| record_format | Article |
| series | eLife |
| spelling | doaj.art-11576d29f4384b9fa6f83645fd2949462022-12-22T03:51:16ZengeLife Sciences Publications LtdeLife2050-084X2020-12-01910.7554/eLife.62883Productivity loss associated with functional disability in a contemporary small-scale subsistence populationJonathan Stieglitz0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5985-9643Paul L Hooper1Benjamin C Trumble2Hillard Kaplan3Michael D Gurven4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5661-527XUniversité Toulouse 1 Capitole, Toulouse, France; Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse, Toulouse, FranceEconomic Science Institute, Chapman University, 1 University Drive, Orange, United StatesCenter for Evolution and Medicine, Life Sciences C, Arizona State University, Tempe, United States; School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, United StatesEconomic Science Institute, Chapman University, 1 University Drive, Orange, United StatesDepartment of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, United StatesIn comparative cross-species perspective, humans experience unique physical impairments with potentially large consequences. Quantifying the burden of impairment in subsistence populations is critical for understanding selection pressures underlying strategies that minimize risk of production deficits. We examine among forager-horticulturalists whether compromised bone strength (indicated by fracture and lower bone mineral density, BMD) is associated with subsistence task cessation. We also estimate the magnitude of productivity losses associated with compromised bone strength. Fracture is associated with cessation of hunting, tree chopping, and walking long distances, but not tool manufacture. Age-specific productivity losses from hunting cessation associated with fracture and lower BMD are substantial: ~397 lost kcals/day, with expected future losses of up to 1.9 million kcals (22% of expected production). Productivity loss is thus substantial for high strength and endurance tasks. Determining the extent to which impairment obstructs productivity in contemporary subsistence populations improves our ability to infer past consequences of impairment.https://elifesciences.org/articles/62883functional disabilityskeletal gracilitylife history theoryvertebral fracturebone mineral densitytsimane |
| spellingShingle | Jonathan Stieglitz Paul L Hooper Benjamin C Trumble Hillard Kaplan Michael D Gurven Productivity loss associated with functional disability in a contemporary small-scale subsistence population eLife functional disability skeletal gracility life history theory vertebral fracture bone mineral density tsimane |
| title | Productivity loss associated with functional disability in a contemporary small-scale subsistence population |
| title_full | Productivity loss associated with functional disability in a contemporary small-scale subsistence population |
| title_fullStr | Productivity loss associated with functional disability in a contemporary small-scale subsistence population |
| title_full_unstemmed | Productivity loss associated with functional disability in a contemporary small-scale subsistence population |
| title_short | Productivity loss associated with functional disability in a contemporary small-scale subsistence population |
| title_sort | productivity loss associated with functional disability in a contemporary small scale subsistence population |
| topic | functional disability skeletal gracility life history theory vertebral fracture bone mineral density tsimane |
| url | https://elifesciences.org/articles/62883 |
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