Determination of human body volume from height and weight.

Abstract

A previously developed method of graphical determination of human body volume from measurements of height and weight has been extended for utilization from a limited range to one spanning the development of the male and female form from infant to adult. Equations best suited to express the relations of weight and height to show body volume and surface area over the periods of the life span for W/H = 0.04-0.1, 0.1-0.2, and 0.2-0.8, were found to be, respectively, for males: V/S = 57.26 (W/H)[degree]-494 + 0.254, V/S = 50.6 (W/H)0.436 and V/S = 60.20 (W/H)0.562. and for females V/S = 60.36 (W/H)0-507 +0.254, V/S = 51.1 (W/H)0.429 and V/S = 62.90 (W/H) 0-578. A statistical evaluation and comparison with results of almost 1900 physical measurements taken from the literature indicate that this approach provides results acceptable for most clinical purposes, and is much more convenient and rapid than other, conventional methods of arriving at indices of body composition (volume, specific gravity, density, and body fat). The method permits the simultaneous determination of human body surface area as previously described.