Premium
Allometric models of adult regional body lengths and circumferences to height: Insights from a three‐dimensional body image scanner
Author(s) -
Watts Krista,
Hwaung Phoenix,
Grymes James,
Cottam Samuel H.,
Heymsfield Steven B.,
Thomas Diana M.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
american journal of human biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.559
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1520-6300
pISSN - 1042-0533
DOI - 10.1002/ajhb.23349
Subject(s) - trunk , allometry , anthropometry , scaling , body height , head (geology) , anatomy , mathematics , geometry , body weight , medicine , geology , biology , ecology , geomorphology , paleontology
Abstract Objectives Recent reports on body regional mass scalings to height have advanced understanding differences in adult heights. These studies resulted in conjectures on how regional lengths and circumferences may scale to height. We provide evidence for these conjectures by analyzing a large sample of regional limb, trunk, chest, and head lengths and circumferences in a large sample of US Army basic training recruits. Methods Participants consisted of 10 271 males and 2760 females ages 17 to 21 years old who reported for basic training at Fort Jackson, SC. Participants were imaged by a three‐dimensional (3D) body scanner for uniform sizing which yielded 159 body measurements of total mass, lengths and circumferences at regional sites of arms, legs, trunk, chest, and head. The allometric model, Body Measur e i = α i H β iwas applied to derive scaling exponents which were applied to estimate regional mass scalings. Results Body mass scaled to height with powers of ∼2.0 (mean β ± SE, 1.98 ± 0.04, 1.93 ± 0.06). Arm and leg lengths scaled to exponents larger than 1.0 and head height and circumferences at regional sites scaled to exponents smaller than 1.0. The leg, arm, and trunk mass scaling exponents were all above 2.0. Head mass scaled to powers smaller than 2.0. Conclusions The 3D scanner allowed hundreds of anthropometric measurements to be obtained within seconds. The ensuing analysis revealed that greater height yielded disproportional increases in limb lengths, limb mass and trunk mass. These analyses provide evidence that could not be previously measured that further both biomechanical and metabolic conjectures.