Valmiera Residents to Be Measured in August for Science: RSU Researchers Continue Large-Scale Anthropological Study

Researchers and students from Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU), together with students from the Latvian Academy of Culture and led by Professor Jānis Vētra, will conduct resident measurements in Valmiera in early August. The event will take place from August 5 to 9 at the Valmiera Culture Centre. On Monday, August 5, measurements are planned from 15:00 to 19:00; on Wednesday, August 7, from 10:00 to 19:00; on Thursday, August 8, from 10:00 to 18:00; and on Friday, August 9, from 9:00 to 14:00.

During the study, participants will have their weight, height, foot, shoulder, and arm length measured, as well as blood pressure and lung health indicators. Adults may optionally donate blood samples for genetic research. Photography and 3D body scanning will also be performed – a reduced version of the scan can be sent by email upon request. Participants will also fill out a questionnaire about their health status and place of residence.

Everyone is welcome, including families with children and seniors. Children and young people up to age 17 (inclusive) require the consent of a parent or authorized person present. Blood donation is only allowed for adults, as stipulated by the Central Medical Ethics Committee.

No prior registration is needed – measurements will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis, and each person takes about 30 minutes. All measurements will be carried out by doctors and future healthcare professionals. To ensure a smooth process, participants are advised to wear easily removable clothing and tight-fitting underwear, as measurements will be taken without outer garments. Special cabins and isolated measurement areas will ensure privacy.

Professor Vētra explained that the data will be used to create a social portrait of the region, analyze links between chronic diseases and body measurements, and study the musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular health, respiratory health, and body changes over a lifetime.

This study is part of a larger project following the tradition of anthropologist Jēkabs Prīmanis's 1936–1938 measurements. In 2024, measurements took place in Vecpiebalga and Jaunpiebalga; in 2025, in Kuldīga, Liepāja, and Ventspils. This year, in addition to Valmiera, studies are planned in Mežotne, Bauska, Dobele, Bērze and Līvbērze parishes, Saulkrasti, Salacgrīva, and Limbaži.

Preliminary results from the 2026 studies will be ready in spring 2027, when the team plans to return to the municipalities to share findings with participants. The full analysis, including DNA sequencing, is expected no earlier than 2028.