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The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between body frame size (BFS) and body image, self-esteem, and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in Mexican schoolchildren.This cross-sectional study included children aged 6 to 11 years. Body image, self-esteem, and HRQL were evaluated through interviews. Two frame-size measures, biacromial and bitrochanteric diameters, were collected and summed for categorizing BFS as small, medium, or large. Height and weight were also measured. Spearman's correlations were determined and adjusted by sex, age, and body mass index (BMI). Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed with the psychological measure as the binary dependent variable, the categories of BFS as the independent variable, and sex, age, and BMI as control variables.The correlation between BFS and body image was 0.15 (P .01) and after BMI adjustment was 0.07 (P .05). BFS did not correlate with self-esteem nor HRQL (P .05). Of the children, 79% were dissatisfied with their body image, 20% had a low self-esteem, and 31.8% had a poorly perceived HRQL; there were no differences by BFS. The multivariate analysis showed that a large BFS was not associated with body image dissatisfaction (OR 1.2, 95% CI 0.6-2.3), low self-esteem (OR 1.3, 95% CI 0.7-2.6), or poor HRQL (OR 1.3, 95% CI 0.8-2.2).BFS was not correlated with body image, self-esteem, or HRQL. A high self-esteem and a good level of HRQL prevailed, but a high proportion of children were dissatisfied with their body image. School interventions should promote an appropriate body image and a healthy lifestyle.

SUMMARY Anthropometric and body frame size parameters (ABFSP) are used to interpret body mass and to evaluate nutritional status. Objective of the present study was to investigate the interrelationships between ABFSP, percentage body fat (BF%) and body mass index (BMI). The study was carried out in a sample of 141 adult Bengalee healthy male brick-kiln workers (age range 18-59 years) from Murshidabad district in West Bengal, India. Body weight was recorded; anthropometric measurements included height, breadth (elbow, wrist, hand, foot, ankle, knee), circumferences (mid-upper arm, chest, waist, hip, thigh, medial calf) and skinfolds (biceps, triceps, subscapular, suprailiac). Derived ABFSP included sum of breadth and circumferences, frame index, BMI, BF%, sum of skinfolds, ratio of central and peripheral skinfolds, arm muscle area, arm muscle circumference, arm fat area and brachial adipo-muscular ratio. Correlations (age-controlled) between ABFSP, BMI and BF% were highly significant (p < 0.001). The ABFSP and BF% varied significantly (p < 0.0001) in relation to BMI-based nutritional status (BNS). Multinomial logistic regression analysis (age-adjusted) showed ABFSP had statistically significant (p < 0.01) relationships with BNS. There were strong interrelationships between ABFSP, BMI and BF% independent of age. The ABFSP in individuals with normal BMI, suffering from undernutrition (low BMI) or overweight are different.

Objective: The aim of the current study was to provide wrist circumference (WrC) and body frame size (height/WrC) percentile values in Turkish children and adolescents aged 6-17 years. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the data of “Determination of Anthropometric Measures of Turkish Children and Adolescents” (DAMTCA II) study in Kayseri/Turkey were used. A total of 4330 observations were recorded (1931 boys, 2399 girls). The WrC and frame size reference values were produced with generalized additive models for location, scale and shape. Results: The WrC percentiles (3rd-97th) were calculated. The frame size (height/WrC) was estimated as small, medium, and large (

Objectives The main aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that body frame size is related to the amount of fat in different adipose tissue depots and to fat distribution in schoolchildren. Methods Children aged between 5 and 10 years were included in this cross-sectional study (n = 565). Body frame size, adiposity markers (anthropometric, skinfolds thickness, and ultrasound measures), and fat distribution indices were analyzed. Correlation coefficients adjusted by reliability were estimated and analyzed by sex; the significance of the difference between two correlation coefficients was assessed using the Fisher z-transformation. Results The sample included primarily urban children; 58.6% were normal weight, 16.1% overweight, 19.6% obese, and the rest were underweight. Markers of subcutaneous adiposity, fat mass and fat-free mass, and preperitoneal adiposity showed higher and significant correlations with the sum of the biacromial + bitrochanteric diameter than with the elbow diameter, regardless of sex. The fat distribution conicity index presented significant but weak correlations; and visceral adipose tissue, hepatic steatosis, and the waist-for-hip ratio were not significantly correlated with body frame size measures. Conclusions Body frame size in school children was related to the amount of adipose tissue in different depots, but not adipose distribution. More studies are needed to confirm this relationship and its importance to predict changes in visceral fat deposition during growth.

Accurate designations of body frame size can enhance the interpretation of height-weight tables. Determinants of frame size should be quantifiable, reflective of skeletal dimensions, and not influenced by adiposity. Visual assessment, the height:wrist circumference ratio, elbow breadth by 1983 and 1984 standards, and Frame Index 2 were studied in 300 healthy adults over 64 years of age. Distribution of frame size across small, medium, and large categories revealed that visual assessment and height:wrist circumference ratio agreed with designations of elbow breadth measurements for less than 50% of the population. Highest levels of agreement occurred between elbow breadth (1984) and Frame Index 2. For men, high partial correlations between height:wrist circumference ratio and subscapular fatfold measurements corrected for age and arm muscle area indicated that measurement may be affected by body fat. Lowest correlations with subscapular fatfolds were for wrist and ankle breadths for women and ankle breadth for men. Elbow breadth and Frame Index 2 had low negative correlations with subscapular skinfold for men but much higher values for women. Elbow breadth measurements are widely used as frame size determinants, but for women, at least, ankle and wrist breadths meet the criterion of low associations with body fatness.

Background: Waist circumference (WC) (abdominal girth), a measure of both subcutaneous and visceral fats, is easily measured and also correlated with body frame size. Waist circumference (WC) and waist–hip ratio (WHR), but not body mass index (BMI), have also been identified as independent predictors of CVD risk, accounting for conventional risk factors in the Framingham risk score model. Aims & Objective: To compare waist-related anthropometric measures such as waist circumference, waist–height ratio (WHtR), waist–hip ratio (WHR), and body mass index (BMI) as predictors of coronary heart disease (CHD) in women. Materials and Methods: This prospective study included 88 women aged 40–80 years. Waist circumference, hip circumference, height, weight, age, and other covariates were collected by a questionnaire. The primary end point was incident CHD that was reported by a physician. χ2-Test or Student’s t-test was used for comparison of quantitative data. The significance of the results was determined by 95% CI and a p value

Insurance companies have dominated the development of height-weight tables. Initially, tables indicated average weights for insurees, revealing weight gains with increasing age. While pneumonia and tuberculosis were leading causes of death, underweight was considered undesirable because it was associated with those conditions. Extra weight was then thought to represent a reserve that could be drawn upon in time of illness. As those diseases were brought under control, the risk factors in overweight received increased attention. Since the 1940s, tables have been developed by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company for "ideal" and "desirable" weights, defined as weights associated with the lowest mortality rate. Body frame size, although poorly defined, was factored into the tables. The data base and philosophy of the tables have been questioned by some researchers. Recently, Metropolitan issued 1983 height and weight tables based on life insurance statistics. Weights for height are slightly higher than in the previous (1959) tables. Although stated weights are those associated with the lowest mortality, they are not labeled "ideal" or "desirable". A method for determining body frame size through measurements of elbow breadth is presented. Health care providers should be aware of the latest revisions of these widely used tables, their philosophy, and data source to ensure most suitable use.

Several anthropometric measurements were taken on a total of 387 healthy Lebanese single females 18–25 years of age, whose heights fell within a range of 153.5–167.4 cm. The selected subjects were neither under-or overweight as Judged by overall body appearance. A total of 142 subjects possssing triceps and abdomen skinfold thickness; and mid-thigh circumference values either below or above a certain range set for these three parameters were later excluded from the study. This step was necessary in order to leave, in the final sample, only those subjects with moderate body fat content which met our definition of having desirable body weights. Correlation coefficients (r) of selected anthropometric parameters to actual body weight (Wt) were calculated for the remaining 245 subjects. The results showed the body frame size (BFS) parameter (the sum of the wrist and ankle circumferences; and shoulders' length) to have the highest correlation (r=0.75) followed by body height (r=0.70). When individually tested, the parameters making up BFS showed moderate correlations to actual Wt. A moderate correlation (r=0.52) was also reported for mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC). Results of multiple regression analysis, with actual Wt as the dependent variable, showed an improvement in the accuracy of estimation of desirable Wt upon the stepwise addition of BFS and MAMC to Ht. The outcome of the study was the development of regression equations based on Ht, BFS and MAMC parameters which can estimate the desirable Wt of adult females irrespective of their frame size and degree of leanness or obesity, within a standard error of estimate ranging from 2.0–2.2 kg depending on the equation used.

A bivariate mathematical model termed the "HAT" model for defining body frame size is presented for young males and females (mean age 22 yr). The HAT model is based on the relationship between stature and the sum of the biacromial and bitrochanteric diameter measurements. Small, medium, and large frame sizes were calculated for individuals and percentile rankings for the corresponding body weights, percentage fats, and lean body weights were given. For males, it was observed that differences in body weight between frame size groups was primarily due to differences in lean body weight. That is, lean body weight increased per frame size, while fat weight per frame size remained constant. For females in contrast, there was a small but statistically significant increase in fat weight per frame size and no increase in lean body weight per frame size. Am J Clin Nutr 1982;36:669-675.

The validity of self-appraisal of body frame size was investigated in 72 college-aged subjects (39 males and 33 females). Validity was assessed by comparing self-appraised frame size versus the quantitative "HAT" formulation, which includes stature and two trunk diameters. Frame size was also assessed separately, for each subject by an expert rater. Results showed that the expert rater was in error 28% in comparison to the criterion frame size estimation, while 41% of the subjects were in error in assessing their own frame size, in comparison to the HAT criterion. The expert rater and self-appraisal differed by 33%. When analyzed by sex, it was revealed that the females were more inaccurate in assessing their frame size, in comparison to the criterion, than were the males. The consequences of inaccurate frame size assessment, in terms of ideal weight from the Metropolitan tables was discussed. Also, data were presented on a different sample of 103 females classified into percentage fat categories of less than 20%, 20 to 30%, and more than 30% which illustrated no statistical differences in skeletal dimensions, including frame size.

A decision as to whether one is overweight is usually obtained by looking at height and weight tables which require a knowledge of sex, height, and body-frame size to determine ideal weight. These tables have been criticized because they have not included an objective procedure for determining body-frame size (1, 3). Tkis lack has been addressed in the 1983 Metropolitan Height and Weight tables by providing individuals with an objective means of estimating body-frame size. Recent mass media presentations of the 1983 tables, however, do not include the recommended procedure for determining body-frame size. It appears that people will continue to make subjective judgments regarding their body-frame size when determining their ideal weights with these tables. This study assessed the accuracy with which people estimate body-frame size when they are not provided an objective means of measurement. Subjects were 85 individuals recmited at a local shopping mall. Forty-five men with a mean age of 30 yr. (SD = 13.66 yr.) and 40 women with a mean age of 31 yr. (SD = 16.55 yr.) were asked to select their ideal weight by examining the 1983 Metropolitan Height and Weight tables. Their selections ~rovided the researchers with a subiective assessment of the subjects' body-frame size. The subjects were then objectively assessed for body-frame size by placing a soft measuring tape around the smallest circumference of the wrist, distal to styloid process of radius and ulna, a procedure developed by Lindner (2). Results indicated only 32 of 85 subjects correctly estimated body-frame size. When the data were examined according to sex, responses of 18 of 45 men and of 14 of 40 women agreed with the Linder criterion. Of the 40 men and 18 women whose data made it possible to underestimate body-frame size, i.e., those subjects with objectively determined medium and large body-frame sizes, 57% of the men and 61% of the women underestimated their body-frame size. As underestimating body-frame size may lead people to believe they are overweight when in fact they may not be, the incidence of underestimating observed here may help explain surveys which yield a much higher incidence of subjective feelings of being "too fat" than would be warranted by objective estimates.