Anthropometric
Reference Data, United States, 1988-1994
The following 64 tables
contain the number of examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean,
and selected percentiles for each of the body measures collected in the
third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The data are
displayed by sex, age and race/ethnicity. The tables are in PDF
format and can be viewed using Adobe Acrobat.
Table
1. Weight in pounds for persons 3 months-19 years - number of examined
persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected percentiles, by
sex and age: United States, 1988-1994 131
KB
Table
2. Weight in pounds for males 20 years and over - number of examined
persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected percentiles, by
race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994 111
KB
Table
3. Weight in pounds for females 20 years and over - number of examined
persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
111 KB
Table
4. Weight in kilograms for persons 3 months-19 years - number of examined
persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected percentiles, by
sex and age: United States, 1988-1994 131
KB
Table
5. Weight in kilograms for males 20 years and over - number of examined
persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
110 KB
Table
6. Weight in kilograms for females 20 years and over - number of examined
persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected percentiles by
race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994 111
KB
Table
7. Body mass index (kilograms divided by height in meters squared) for
persons 2-19 years - number of examined persons, mean, standard error of
the mean, and selected percentiles, by sex and age: United States,
1988-1994 114 KB
Table
8. Body mass index (kilograms divided by height in meters squared) for
males 20 years and over - number of examined persons, mean, standard error
of the mean, and selected percentiles, by race/ethnicity and age: United
States, 1988-1994 110 KB
Table
9. Body mass index (kilograms divided by height in meters squared) for
females 20 years and over - number of examined persons, mean, standard
error of the mean, and selected percentiles, by race/ethnicity and age:
United States, 1988-1994 111 KB
Table
10. Height in inches for persons 2-19 years - number of examined persons,
mean, standard error of the mean and selected percentiles by sex and age:
United States, 1988-1994 113 KB
Table
11. Height in inches for males 20 years and over - number of examined
persons, mean, standard error of the mean and selected percentiles by
race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994 110KB
Table
12. Height in inches for females 20 years and over - number of examined
persons, mean, standard error of the mean and selected percentiles by
race/ethnicity, age: United States, 1988-1994 110
KB
Table
13. Height in centimeters for persons 2-19 years - number of examined
persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected percentiles, by
sex and age: United States, 1988-1994 114
KB
Table
14. Height in centimeters for males 20 years and over - number of examined
persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected percentiles, by
race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994 110
KB
Table
15. Height in centimeters for females 20 years and over - number of
examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
27 KB
Table
16. Recumbent length in centimeters for persons 3 months-3 years - number
of examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean and selected
percentiles, by sex and age: United States, 1988-1994 69
KB
Table
17. Sitting height in centimeters for persons 2-19 years - number of
examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by sex and age: United States, 1988-1994 113
KB
Table
18. Sitting height in centimeters for males 20 years and over - number of
examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
110 KB
Table
19. Sitting height in centimeters for females 20 years and over - number
of examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age : United States, 1988-1994
110 KB
Table
20. Upper-arm length in centimeters for persons 3 months-19 years - number
of examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by sex and age: United States, 1988-1994 130
KB
Table
21. Upper-arm length in centimeters for males 20 years and over - number
of examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-94
110 KB
Table
22. Upper-arm length in centimeters for females 20 years and over - number
of examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
110 KB
Table
23. Upper leg length in centimeters for persons 2-19 years - number of
examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and the selected
percentiles, by sex and age: United States, 1988-1994 113
KB
Table
24.Upper leg length in centimeters for males 20 years and over - number of
examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
110 KB
Table
25. Upper leg length in centimeters for females 20 years and over - number
of examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
110 KB
Table
26. Knee height in centimeters for males 6 0 years and over - number of
examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
115 KB
Table
27. Knee height in centimeters for females 6 0 years and over - number of
examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
131 KB
Table
28. Triceps skinfold in millimeters for persons 3 months-19 years - number
of examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by sex and age: United States, 1988-1994 282
KB
Table
29. Triceps skinfold in millimeters for males 20 years and over - number
of examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
193 KB
Table
30. Triceps skinfold in millimeters for females 20 years and over - number
of examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
195 KB
Table
31. Subscapular skinfold in millimeters for persons 3 months-19 years -
number of examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean and selected
percentiles, by sex and age: United States, 1988-1994 270
KB
Table
32. Subscapular skinfold in millimeters for males 20 years and over -
number of examined persons, mean,
standard error of the
mean, and selected percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States,
1988-1994
183 KB
Table
33. Subscapular skinfold in millimeters for females 20 years and over -
number of examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
184 KB
Table
34. Suprailiac skinfold in millimeters for persons 2-19 years - number of
examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean and selected
percentiles, by sex and age: United States, 1988-1994 114
KB
Table
35. Suprailiac skinfold in millimeters for males 20 years and over -
number of examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
195 KB
Table
36. Suprailiac skinfold in millimeters for females 20 years and over -
number of examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
173 KB
Table
37. Thigh skinfold in millimeters for persons 2-19 years - number of
examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles by sex and age : United States, 1988-1994 256
KB
Table
38. Thigh skinfold in millimeters for males 20 years and over - number of
examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
204 KB
Table
39. Thigh skinfold in millimeters for females 20 years and over - number
of examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
184 KB
Table
40. Head circumference in centimeters for persons 3 months-7 years -
number of examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by sex and age: United States, 1988-1994 165
KB
Table
41. Mid-upper arm circumference in centimeters for persons 3 months-19
years - number of examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and
selected percentiles, by sex and age: United States, 1988-1994
319 KB
Table
42. Mid-upper arm circumference in centimeters for males 20 years and over
- number of examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and
selected percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
183 KB
Table
43. Mid-upper arm circumference in centimeters for females 20 years and
over - number of examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and
selected percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
218KB
Table
44. Thigh circumference in centimeters for persons 2-19 years - number of
examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean and selected
percentiles, by sex and age : United States, 1988-1994 216
KB
Table
45. Thigh circumference in centimeters for males 20 years and over -
number of examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
183 KB
Table
46. Thigh circumference in centimeters for females 20 years and over -
number of examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
183 KB
Table
47. Waist circumference in centimeters for persons 2-19 years - number of
examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by sex and age: United States, 1988-1994 227
KB
Table
48. Waist circumference in centimeters for males 20 years and over -
number of examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States,
1988-1994 197 KB
Table
49. Waist circumference in centimeters for females 20 years and over -
number of examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
174 KB
Table
50. Wrist breadth in centimeters for persons 2-19 years - number of
examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by sex and age: United States, 1988-1994 220
KB
Table
51. Wrist breadth in centimeters for males 20 years and over - number of
examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
200 KB
Table
52. Wrist breadth in centimeters for females 20 years and over - number of
examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
179 KB
Table
53. Biacromial breadth in centimeters for persons 3-19 years - number of
examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by sex and age: United States, 1988-1994 216
KB
Table
54. Biacromial breadth in centimeters for males 20 years and over - number
of examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
194 KB
Table
55. Biacromial breadth in centimeters for females 20 years and over -
number of examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
182 KB
Table
56. Biiliac breadth in centimeters for persons 2-19 years -number of
examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean and selected
percentiles by sex and age: United States, 1988-1994 224
KB
Table
57. Biiliac breadth in centimeters for males 20 years and over - number of
examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
183 KB
Table
58. Biiliac breadth in centimeters for females 20 years and over - number
of examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
182 KB
Table
59. Buttocks circumference in centimeters for persons 2-19 years - number
of examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by sex and age: United States, 1988-1994 217
KB
Table
60. Buttocks circumference in centimeters for males 20 years and over -
number of examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
184 KB
Table
61. Buttocks circumference in centimeters for females 20 years and over -
number of examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
186 KB
Table
62. Elbow breadth in centimeters for persons 2-19 years - number of
examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles by sex and age: United States, 1988-1994 248
KB
Table
63. Elbow breadth in centimeters for males 20 years and over - number of
examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
168 KB
Table
64. Elbow breadth in centimeters for females 20 years and over - number of
examined persons, mean, standard error of the mean, and selected
percentiles, by race-ethnicity and age: United States, 1988-1994
179 KB
Documentation for the
body measures data are available online at the NHANES
datalink web page .
In general, one
measurement was taken at each body site. However, for skinfold
observations more than 1 observation was taken and handling of the data is
described below and in the documentation for body measures.
Skinfold Measures
For NHANES III, the body
measurements protocol specified that skinfolds would be measured at four
different anatomic body sites. Independent measures were taken at each
body site by two technicians, resulting in a minimum of two skinfold
observations for each site.
If the difference between
the two measurements at a given site was within a pre-specified tolerance
limit, no further measurements were taken at that site. The tolerance
limits increased by 2 mm for every 10 mm measured. For the first two
measures, the first measure represents the base. Thus, from 0-10 mm,
observations were acceptable if they differed from the base measurement by
2 mm or less; from 10-20 mm, observations were acceptable if they differed
from the base measurement by 4 mm or less; from 20-30 mm, observations
were acceptable if they differed from the base measurement by 6 mm or
less, and so on. If the difference between the two measurements at a given
site did exceed the tolerance limit, each technician repeated and recorded
a second measurement, resulting in a total of four measurements at that
skinfold site.
The summary skinfold
values were computed as follows:
If data were available
for the third and fourth measurements and the difference between those
measurements was within the specified tolerance limit, then the summary
value was the mean of the third and fourth measurements. In all other
cases, the summary value was the mean of all available skinfold
measurements at that site.
Tolerance: Tolerance was
defined using the base skinfold measure. For the third and fourth
measures, the third measure represents the base.
If
base > 0 and base <= 10 then tolerance is 2 mm
If
base > 10 and base <= 20 then tolerance is 4 mm
If
base > 20 and base <= 30 then tolerance is 6 mm
If
base > 30 and base <= 40 then tolerance is 8 mm
If
base > 40 then tolerance is 10 mm.
This approach resulted in
a single skinfold value for each of four anatomic locations in the final
analytic data. These four locations were reported as triceps (BMPTRI),
subscapular (BMPSUB), suprailiac (BMPSUP), and thigh (BMPTHI) skinfolds.
This page last reviewed
October 15, 2008