Body mass indices based on the chest diameters

Acta Univ Palacki Olomuc Fac Med. 1989:122:387-97.

Abstract

There is a series of indices used in the physical anthropology by means of which human body mass is related to some dimensions or functions of dimensions of the skeleton. Physical dimension of these indices is that of the density - in the lengths, surfaces or volumes. Among those functions also the cylinder is considered the height of which coincides with that of the body and the circumference of which is the same as the chest circumference. Main advantage of the chest circumference to use is the simplicity of its measurement by means of the tape easy to apply; disadvantage is that chest circumference is not the purely skeletal dimension. Skeleton cylinder of this kind can be defined also through the procedure where chest circumference is substituted by the transversal and sagittal diameter of the chest. In the paper body mass indices have been introduced based on these chest diameters, the formulas derived of the adequate body mass prediction and those for the computation of overweight as well. Applicability of the formulas derived theoretically has been verified in some particular cases.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anthropometry
  • Body Mass Index*
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Thorax / anatomy & histology*