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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

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An updated estimate of the body dimensions of US children

Brian T Pagano1, Matthew B Parkinson, Matthew P Reed

  • 1a Mechanical Engineering , Penn State University , University Park , PA , USA.

Ergonomics
|January 20, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Updated anthropometric data for US children are crucial due to rising obesity rates. A new virtual population reveals significant changes in torso and limb dimensions since the 1970s, impacting product design and safety standards.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Human Factors Engineering
  • Biometrics

Background:

  • Child anthropometric data are essential for product design and safety standards.
  • The last comprehensive US child anthropometry study is over 30 years old.
  • Demographic shifts and increased childhood overweight/obesity have made existing data obsolete.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To address the lack of current anthropometric data for US children.
  • To create a virtual population representing modern children's measurements.
  • To inform the design of safer products and improve accommodation for children.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized an anthropometric synthesis technique to generate a virtual population.
  • Included 84 distinct anthropometric measures for each virtual individual.
  • Validated a subset of the synthesized data against limited contemporary measurements.

Main Results:

  • Significant changes observed in torso, arm, and leg width/circumference compared to 1970s data.
  • Minimal changes noted in length measurements and dimensions of the head, face, hands, and feet.
  • The synthesized virtual population reflects current US child body dimensions.

Conclusions:

  • Current US child anthropometric data are inadequate for modern product design and safety standards.
  • The created virtual population provides a valuable interim resource.
  • Further comprehensive anthropometric surveys are recommended to guide future design and policy.

Keywords:
anthropometry synthesischild anthropometrychild growthchild obesityhuman variabilityproduct design

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