Anthropometric

Measurements

Prof.Dr. Ibrahim Hamoda

 Definition

Significance

Factors affecting anthropometry

Measurements and techniques

Contents:
Ratios and proportions

Physique

Applications of anthropometry
Definition:

It is the traditional and

Anthropometry is a series
basic tool of biological
of systematized techniques
anthropology, used in
that express quantitatively
physical therapy and
the dimensions of the
physical activity and sport
human body.
sciences.
 • Body size and proportions, physique
and body composition are important
factors in physical performance and
fitness.
• Body size, particularly weight, is the
standard frame of reference for
Significance of expressing physiological parameters,
studying whereas skin fold thickness are used
anthropometry: to estimate body composition.
• Describes a series of dimensions and
several ratios that have relevance to
the physical activity and sports
sciences.
• It enhances the difference between
overweight and obesity.
FACTORS AFFECTING ANTHROPOMETRY

Gender :
• Males have less fat and more muscle .Fat accumulation regions are different for men and women .

Aging :
• Stature decreases and body weight increases after 30 years Body weight decreases after 50(M),
60(F) .
Ethnicity
• Lower body weights for those who live in tropical countries. body proportions differ depending on
ethnicity.
• Differences diminish due to migration.

Occupation

Measurements • Anthropometry involves the use of carefully
defined body landmarks or measurements,
and specific subject positioning for these
techniques: measurements, and the use of appropriate
instruments.
• Anthropometry is non-invasive in a
physiological sense. All measurements are
external dimensions of the body or its parts.
 • Numerous special measurements for
Measurements specific body parts can be defined,
especially for the head, face, hand and the
and foot.
techniques: • The key issue is selection of measurement
depends on the purpose of the study.
• Anthropometry is highly objective and
highly reliable in the hands of trained
anthropometrists.
Measurements

Height
Mass (Weight) Lengths
(Stature)

Soft-tissue
Breaths Or Circumferences
Measurements
Widths Or Girths
(Skin Folds)
Measurements: Mass (Weight)

Is measured using a calibrated weighing machine scales

The subject should be weighed with minimum clothing or with clothing of known
weight .

Ideally the subject should be weighed at the same time of the day each time he has to
be weighed . Preferably early morning i.e. 12hrs after the last meal and voiding.

The subject should be standing with weight distributed equally on both legs, looking
straight forward.
Measurements: Height (Stature)

• There are four general techniques for measuring

stature which yield slightly different values :
freestanding stature, stature against the wall,
recumbent length and stretch stature.

• The measurement is taken as the maximum

vertical distance from the floor to the vertex of the
head.

• The subject should be bare foot

 Height (stature) and weight shows diurnal
variation or variation in the dimension
Measurements: during a day.
Mass (Weight)
and Height Height (stature) is greatest in morning
upon arising from bed and decreases as
(Stature) the individuals assumes upright posture
and walks about. Also, weight is lightest in
morning and increases as the day goes on.
Measurements: Lengths
• Sitting height, as the name implies, • Most of the diurnal variation occurs
the height (stature) of the in the trunk and thus influences sitting
individual while sitting. It is height.
measured as the distance from the
sitting surface to the top of the
head with the individual seated in
the standard position.
Measurements: Lengths

Arm span:
• The distance from the left to the right dactylion when the palms are
facing forward, and the outstretched arms are abducted to the horizontal.
• The measurement can be made by anthropometric tape or against a
calibrated wall chart with marked distances.
Measurements: Lengths

• Length of limb segments can be measured either directly between two

skeletal landmarks or as vertical distance between a constant flat
surface (as the floor) and a skeletal landmark
Inequality of lower limb length will:
• Affect gait pattern (function).
• Create degenerative changes in weight bearing joints.
• Cause deformities, which may be non-structural at first, then become
structural. Unilateral shortening of lower limb leads to pelvic tilt,
scoliosis, dropping of shoulder and tilting of head.
• The tape method is the most widely used method and is also reliable.
 Procedure:

•With shoes on
•With shoes off
INSTRUMENT •Supine
•Standing

Sego-meter
 Measurements: Breaths Or Widths

Breadth or width
measurements are taken
Skeletal breadths are
across specific bone
commonly taken from four
landmarks and therefore
landmarks:
provides an indication of the
sturdiness of the skeleton.

Biacromial breadth measures

Bicristal breadth measures
the distance across right and Biepicondylar breadth
the distance across the most Bicondylar breadth measures
left acromial processes of the measures the distance across
lateral parts of the iliac crests the distance across the bony
scapulae and thus provides an the bony epicondyles of the
and thus provide an condyles of the femur.
indication of shoulder humerus.
indication of the hip breadth.
breadth.
Measurements: Circumferences

• Limb circumferences are used as indicator of relative muscularity. However,

that a circumference includes bone, surrounded by a mass of muscle tissue,
which is ringed by a layer of subcutaneous fat. It doesn’t provide a measure
of muscle tissue.
• The two more commonly sites where limb circumferences are taken as
follows:
• Arm circumference: measured with the arm hanging relaxed at the side,
from the point midway between the acromial and olecranon processes.
• calf circumference: measured as the maximum circumference of the calf
with the subject in a standing position and the weight evenly distributed
between both legs.
 Measurements: Circumferences
• Thigh circumference: occasionally utilized in
the physical activity and sport science,
primarily from the perspective of estimating
thigh muscle volume. They include three
thigh circumferences at the gluteal furrow
(proximal thigh circumference), at the
distance one-third of sub ischial height
(stature) up from the tibial- femoral joint
space and at the minimum circumference
above the knee and anterior and posterior
thigh skinfolds in the midline at the one-
third subischial height (stature) level.
Measurements:
Circumferences

• Hip circumference is a measurement

of the hips, using a tape measure, to
assess the spatial distance between
each corresponding hipbone in
proportion to the buttocks. In clinical
settings, a tensile tape measure
covers the dimensions of the hips,
parallel to the back to ensure a level
measurement following exhalation by
the patient. A clinician must maintain
a firm grasp of the tape measure to
ensure it conforms to the shape of the
hips when documenting test results.
FIGURE OF 8 FOR EDEMA
 Skin fold thickness:
• Yuhasz Method — %body fat from skinfold results.
• Skin fold thickness are indicators of subcutaneous fat, the portion of the body fat located
immediately beneath the skin.
• Skin folds are a double fold of skin and underlying subcutaneous tissue at specific sites.
 Skin fold thickness:

The triceps skinfold: measured

The biceps skinfold: measured on
on the back of the arm over the The subscapular skinfold:
the anterior aspect of the arm The suprailiac skinfold: measured
triceps muscle at the same level measured on the back just
over the biceps muscle at the immediately above the iliac crest
as relaxed arm circumference beneath the inferior angle of the
same level as relaxed arm in the midaxillary line.
(midway the olecranon and the scapula.
circumference.
acromial processes).

The thigh skinfold: measured The medial calf skinfold:

The abdominal skinfold: The lateral calf skinfold:
over the anterior aspect of the measured on the inside of the
measured as a horizontal fold measured on the lateral aspect of
thigh in the midline midway calf at the same level as calf
3cm lateral and 1cm inferior to the calf at the same level as calf
between the inguinal crease and circumference, i.e., at maximum
the umbilicus. circumference.
proximal border of the patella. circumference.
 Body Density equation
• Body Density = 1.112 - (0.00043499 x sum of skinfolds) + (0.00000055 x square of the
sum of skinfold sites) - (0.00028826 x age),
• where the skinfold sites (measured in mm) are: Chest, Axilla, Tricep, Subscapular,
Abdominal, Suprailiac and Thigh
• (reference: Jackson, A.S. & Pollock, M.L. (1978), based on a sample aged 18-61)
Ratios and proportions:

Measurements can be related to each other in the form of indices or

ratios.


These are ordinarily calculated by dividing the larger measurements into

the smaller measurements. Thus, providing information on shape and
proportions.


Ratios and proportions: BMI

• Body mass index (BMI):

• The between weight and height (stature) is common relationship only
expressed in the form of the body mass index.
• Weight/height (stature)2 (kg/m2)
• The
 BMI gives an idea of overweight and obesity especially in adults.


 Waist and hip circumferences are expressed as the
waist/hip ratio. Waist circumference is an indicator of
adipose tissue in the waist and abdominal area; hip
circumference is an indicator of adipose tissue over the
buttocks and hips.

Ratios and
Thus, ratio provides an index of relative fat distribution in
proportions: adults, the higher the ratio the greater the proportion of
abdominal fat.

Waist/hip
Waist circumference/height of the person. Higher the
ratio higher risk of obesity and CVD.
Ratios and proportions: Sitting-height/stature

• The ratio of sitting height to stature provides an estimate of relative trunk

length and conversely, relative leg length.
• (Sitting height /Stature)x 100
• Commonly used in nutritional surveys as an indirect indicator of the effects
of adverse nutritional circumstances on the lower extremities.
• Higher ratios tend to be characteristic of chronically undernourished
population.
• The ratio is also useful in studies of population variation.
• For Eg.: ratio is lower in American blacks (indicating longer lower
extremities) than in American whites.
Ratios and proportions: Bicristal breadth/Biacromial breadth

• The ratio of bicristal breadth to biacromial breadth relates the breadth of

the hips (lower trunk) to that of the shoulders (upper trunk).
(Bicristal breadth/Biacromial breadth) x 100
• The ratio is higher, on the average, in girls than in boys at all ages during
childhood and adolescence, and this difference persists into adulthood.
• Thus, females have broader hips relative to shoulder, while males have
broader shoulders relative to hips.
•G
Ratios and proportions: Limitations

Ratios are influenced by

Ratios are also affected by
the relationship between
the measurement
the two variables and
variability associated with
that the two dimensions
each dimension.
change in a linear manner.
 • Physique is the individual’s body form, the
configuration of the entire body rather than
of specific features.
Physique: • Physique is referred to as body build.
• Many studies have been done taking into
consideration with physique and performance
and physiques characteristic of athletes in a
variety of sports.
• Physique is often expressed in the context of
the somatotype.
Physique:

Endomorph (Predominance of digestive organs, softness

and roundness of contours throughout the body),

Mesomorph (predominance of muscle, bone and

connective tissues)

Ectomorph (predominance of surface area over body

mass, linearity).
Physique:
Recent advances: THREE-DIMENSIONAL
BODY SCANNER

• Three-dimensional photonic scanning uses high-speed digital cameras

to detect the positions of laser light points projected onto the surface of
an object and reflected to the cameras. Software connects the points to
generate a 3-D image that is used to determine values for body
circumferences, lengths, width, volumes, and thickness.
 Applications of anthropometry:

Anthropometry have a variety of applications, including description and

comparison, evaluation of interventions and identification of individuals or groups
at risk. It also describes the morphological status of an individual or a sample.
• It is often used as an outcome variable in evaluating intervention such as the
effects of exercise and weight reduction on body weight and subcutaneous fat or
the effects of resistance training on muscle girths.
• It can also be used as a mediator variable in evaluating interventions
• For e.g., the effects of exercises and dietary interventions on serum cholesterol
may be mediated by their effects on body weight and fatness.
• Finally, anthropometry is often used to identify individuals at risk who may
require special attention.
Refernces:

• Robert M. Malina Physiological assessment of human fitness,

University of Texas.

• C.G.N. Mas Talor. Anthropometry: the individual and the population.

Thank YOU