ANTHROPOMETRY
01/08/2023 1
Outcomes
Purpose of anthropometry testing
Important landmarks / muscles in anthropometry
Protocols and equipment
Norms
2
INTRODUCTION
What is anthropometry?
Anthropometry is the study of the measurement of the
human body relating to the dimensions of the bone,
muscle, and fat.
3
Body Composition
and anthropometry.
• A human body mass is divided into two categories
fat mass and lean body weight (two-component
model).
• The two-component model based on the hydro
densitometry method where the densities of water ,
mineral, and proteins in the human body are used
to find out the total body density and body fat
proportions.
• Bioelectrical impedance – where electrodes are
placed one hands and one foot and an electrical
current is passed through the body.
4
The Multi component model.
• Utilizes population specific reference bodies.
• It is based on the total water and mineral content of the
body.
• Replaces the reference body with more individualized and
specific reference bodies.
• It considers the following:
• Age, Ethnicity and Race, Gender.
5
Function’s / Importance of
Anthropometry
6
Functions of anthropometry
measurements.
• Can be used to determine body composition and assist in determining exercise
programs and the healthy body weight of your client.
• Assessing body composition changes understanding the physiological effects of
components such as aging, poor diet and underlying health conditions.
• In the paediatric population these measurements are used to evaluate the health
status , growth measurements and developmental pattern of children.
• In the sporting context, measurements such as height or weight provide
participation classification for competitions e.g., Wrestling.
• It also plays a significant role in various sports to assess athletes' physical
characteristics and optimize performance.
7
Body composition is measured through
five anthropometric methods:
1. Weight & Height
2. BMI
3. Circumferences
4. Skinfolds
5. body fat %
6. Bone breaths
8
Height
Measuring Height :
• We measure height by using a stadiometer.
• The head of the subject must be in a Frankfort plane.
• Vertex of the skull is used as a reference point.
9
Protocol
• Subject must stand with back, buttocks, and
heels against the stadiometer and on the
floor with feet together and flat.
• Instruct subject to hold a deep breath
while keeping the head in the Frankfort
plane
• Record measurement at the end of
subjects deep inward breath.
• Touch the Vertex of the skull as a
reference point
10
Weight
• Weight is measured using a body scale.
Protocol:
• Check that the scale is reading zero.
• Stand in centre of scale with weight distributed equally on
both feet,
• Read body mass to nearest 0.1kg.
• Ask subject to step off the scale.
• Repeat steps 1 to 3.
• If the 2 measurements differ by 0.4kg then repeat steps 1
to 3 11
Body Mass Index (BMI)
BMI is calculated by dividing body weight (kg) by height
(meters) .
Protocol:
BMI (in kg/m2 ) = weight (in kilograms) / height2 (in meters).
To calculate BMI, measure the body weight in kilograms
and convert the height from centimetres to meters (m =
cm / 100).
12
Body Mass
Index (BMI)
• A BMI of 25.0-29.9 kg.m2 is Overweight.
• Health-related problems increase beyond a BMI of
25.0 kg.m2
• A BMI of 30 kg.m2 and above is Obese.
13
Circumferences
• Used to provide a general representation of body composition
• Equipment: anthropometric tape
Protocol:
• Hold the zero end of the tape in your left hand, positioned below the other part of
the tape that is held in your right hand.
• Apply tension to the tape so that it fits snugly around the body part but does not
indent the skin or compress the subcutaneous tissue.
• Take a minimum of three measurements at each site in rotational order.
Waist-hip-ratio (WHR)
• WHR is the circumference of the waist divided by the circumference of the
hips.
• Higher abdominal fat →higher visceral fat → higher development of
metabolic syndrome → as opposed to subcutaneous fat.
Description of sites of WHR:
1. Abdomen
2. Arm
3. Calf
4. Buttocks/hips
5. Forearm
6. Hips/thigh
7. Mid-thigh
8. Waist
17
(WHR)…
• Equipment: Anthropometric tape
• Protocol: To calculate the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), one divides
waist circumference (in centimetres) by hip circumference (in
centimetres).
18
REFERENCE METHODS FOR
ASSESSING BODY
COMPOSITION
Densitometry and Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry are
used to obtain reference measures of body composition.
19
Dual-energy x-ray
absorptiometry
DXA can define the composition of the human body
by distinguishing three different compartments
based on their specific X-ray attenuation properties:
• bone mineral content (BMC),
• lipid (triglycerides,
• phospholipid membranes, etc.) which is referred
to as "fat mass"
• lipid-free soft tissue which is referred to as "lean
mass" (LM).
Equipment: DXA scanner, scale, skeletal
anthropometer, Stadiometer.
20
DXA is a low-dose radiation technology that may quickly produce many BC indices in a few minutes
and is typically believed to be more accessible and comfortable for patients.
Protocol:
• Calibrate the DXA scanner with a calibration marker provided by the manufacturer.
• Measure your client’s height and weight with the client wearing minimal clothing and no shoes.
• Carefully place the client in a supine position on the scanner bed for a head-to-toe,
anteroposterior scan.
• Use a skeletal anthropometer to accurately determine body thickness.
21
Air displacement
plethysmography (BOD POD)
• The BOD POD is a single fiberglass container with two
chambers.
• The test chamber houses the person during testing, whereas
the reference chamber contains instrumentation for measuring
pressure differences between the two rooms.
• Air displacement plethysmography (ADP) is a two-component
model that assesses mass and volume and therefore an
estimation of body density (Db).
• From this, body density derived from mass divided by volume
can provide estimation of fat and fat-free mass (FFM).
• Equipment: Bod pod
22
CONT…
• At a constant temperature (isothermal condition), volume (V) and
Pressure (P) are inversely related. According to Boyle’s Law, P1/P2 =
V2/V1
• P1 and V1 correspond to the pressure and volume of the Bod Pod
when it is empty; P2 and V2 represent the pressure and volume of the
Bod Pod when the client is in the chamber.
• Therefore (Db = BM/BV) can be calculated.
23
Protocol:
• Measure the client’s height to the nearest
centimetre and body weight to the nearest
5g using the Bod Pod scale.
• Perform the two-point calibration: (a)
baseline calibration with the chamber
empty and (b) phantom calibration with a
50 L calibration cylinder.
• Open the door and then close it tightly;
repeat the 20 sec test. Open the door and
connect the client to the system’s
breathing circuit to begin the TGV
measurement.
24
Hydrostatic weighing
• Densitometry and underwater weighing are other names for
hydrostatic weighing. Using the Archimedes principle, this method
determines the body's density by comparing its weight in air and water.
• The process includes determining the subject's weight (WS) and the
water density in the tank (WD).
• The individual is then placed on a specialised scale and immersed in a
sizable water tank. The subject is then instructed to expel all their air,
after which the residual volume (RV) and weight of the subject under
water (WSU) are measured.
• Equation (1) is used to determine the density of the subject body. Body
fat percentage is determined once body density is determined.
Using this principle, (Db = BM/BV) can be calculated.
Body density = WS / [(WS–WSU) / WD – RV]
(2) Body fat percentage = [495/body density) – 4.142] * 100
25
Protocol:
• Measure the underwater weight of the
chair or platform and of the supporting
equipment and weight belt; the total is
the tare weight.
• Measure your client’s dry weight (weight
in air) to the nearest 50 g.
• Check and record the water
temperature of the tank just before the
test; it should range between 34° and
36°.
• Have the client kneel on the underwater
weighing platform or sit in the chair.
26
CONT…
• Insert the mouthpiece.
• Have the client take a few normal breaths and then exhale
maximally while slowly bending forward to submerge the head.
• Instruct the client to continue exhaling until RV is reached.
Record the highest stable weight with the client fully submerged
at RV.
• Average the three highest trials and record this value as the
gross UWW.
• Determine the net UWW by subtracting the tare weight from the
gross UWW. The net UWW is used to calculate body volume.
27
SKINFOLDS
● The Olympic games provide a great opportunity to study the body size and
composition of athletes from around the world doing various sports.
● The Montreal Anthropometric Games Project (MOGAP) measurements
included measurements of force and anthropometry, General Clinical
Examinations, X-Ray Examination of the Joints, cardiovascular examinations ,
Digestion, urine and Sweat samples thereafter they have been collected and
compared since the years of 1928 until 2016.
● The MOGAP is a gender specific formula uses the tricep , subscapular, supra-
iliac, medial calf, anterior thigh and abdominal skinfold measurements (mm) .
● Where: BF % for Men = 6SF x 0.1051 + 2.585
BF% for Women= 6SF x 0.1548 + 3.585
28
Skinfold Measurements
Equipment: Calliper
Protocol:
• Carefully identify, measure, and mark the SKF site.
• Grasp the SKF firmly between the thumb and index finger of your
left hand.
• Lift the fold 1 cm above the site to be measured.
29
CONT…
• Keep the fold elevated while you take the measurement.
• Place the jaws of the calliper perpendicular to the fold.
• Release the jaw pressure slowly. Take the SKF measurement 3
sec after the pressure is released.
30
31
32
Bone Breadth
• Bone Breadth Measurement sites:
• Bi-epicondylar femur (knee)
• Bi-epicondylar humerus (elbow)
• Malleoli (Ankles)
• Styloid processes (Wrist)
33
Equipment: small sliding callipers and large skeletal anthropometers
Protocol:
• Take all circumference and bony diameter measurements of the limbs on
the right side of the body.
• Hold the skeletal anthropometer or calliper in both hands so the tips of the
index fingers are adjacent to the tips of the calliper.
• Place the calliper on the bony landmarks and apply firm pressure to
compress the underlying muscle, fat, and skin.
• Take a minimum of three measurements at each site in rotational order.
34
SOMATOTYPES
• The term somatotype which was developed by W.H
Sheldon is a classification of human physical types.
• Sheldon classified human beings in terms of three
extreme body types:
• Ectomorphic which is a slim, linear type
• Mesomorphic which is a muscular type
• Endomorphic which is a round and fat type
35
• Ectomorphs are long and lean, with little body fat, and
little muscle. They have a hard time gaining weight.
• Endomorphs, on the other hand, have lots of body fat,
lots of muscle, and gain weight easily
• Mesomorphs are athletic, solid, and strong. They're
not overweight and not underweight.
36
• Sheldon also developed a three-digit scaling system to
determine someone's somatotype.
• Each digit, based on a predefined criteria ranges from 1 to 7
• where pure ectomorph is 1-1-7
• pure mesomorphic is 1-7-1
• and pure endomorph is 7-1-1
37
SOMATOTYPE EQUATIONS
Endomorphy value
• = -0.7182+ (0.1451 x Corrected ∑ 3 skinfolds) -
(0.00068 x (Corrected ∑ 3 skinfolds)²)+
(0.0000014 x (Corrected ∑ 3 skinfolds)³ )
• For the sum of 3 skinfolds, take skinfold measurements
of the Tricep, Subscapular and Suprailiac and add them
• For the corrected sum of 3 skinfolds = ∑ 3 skinfolds x
(170.18/height in cm)
38
Mesomorphy
• =(0.858 x Humeral breadth,cm)+(0.601 x Femoral
breadth,cm)+(0.188 x Corrected bicep girth) + (0.161 x
Corrected calf girth) - (0.131 x Height)+ 4.5
• To get the corrected bicep girth = take the arm
circumference (cm) - triceps skinfold (in mm then
convert to cm)
• To get the corrected calf girth = calf circumference (cm)
- calf skinfold (in mm then convert into cm)
39
Ectomorphy
• All equations for ectomorphy are based on: Height
divided by Cube root of body mass which is denoted as
[HWR]
• If HWR > 40.74 THEN the ectomorphy = (0.732 x
HWR) - 28.58
• If HWR is between 39.65 and 40.74 THEN ectomorphy
= (0.463 x HWR) -17.615
• If HWR < 39.65 THEN the ectomorphy = 0.5
40
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ATTENTION
41
