Modified anthropometry in prepubertal Israeli children while excluding the heads weight and height
Acta Pediatrica, 08/01/2012

Makhoul IR et al. – Measurement of body Wt and Ht while excluding the head’s Wt and Ht provides a new dimension to standard anthropometry by eliminating the age–dependent head bias with its unique pattern of growth and minimal adipose tissue.

• This prospective study was done in 300 2- to 9-year-old typically-growing children.
• Head-excluded (HE) Ht was determined by a stadiometer that measured the distance from the foot plate to the lower margin of protuberance occipitalis externa.
• Head’s weight was calculated from the head volume using three different measurements of the head circumference.

• In the typically-growing children, the HE/standard (STD) ratios for Wt and Ht increased significantly with age (p<0.001 for both), but the HE/STD ratio for BMI did not increase with age.