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 60 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 60 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