[Anthropometric data, proportion and form in children 2 to 5 years old--a longitudinal study]

A longitudinal anthropometric study with integrated picture documentation was made in the German administrative district of Potsdam-Mittelmark from April 2002 until April 2003. During that time 183 children aged between 2 to 5 years were measured. The results of the study show, that with the help of the calculation method for pictures, presented here for the first time, additional information about the changes of proportions and body shape can be gained and made measurable. The aim of the study is to make use of the measureable individual changes in body shape for an objective estimation of the biological age. Being able to calculate the age of a child may be useful when investigating a crime, e. g. in case of an abused child, whose chronological age is unknown at the time of the incident, and the only possibility for an age-estimation depends on a picture.