Anthropometry, or the science of systematically measuring various physical characteristics of the human body, has been used for centuries to compare proportions and physical variations between people and populations. Today, these measurements are still widely used as a simple way to track changes in a person’s health status and to predict their risk of metabolic conditions like diabetes. But some of those measurements are better predictors than others. What is the right number to look at? How do we know if we are trending in the right direction? All that data can be confusing, so let’s try to bring some clarity to the matter and simplify things.
Body weight
Let’s start with a metric we’re all familiar with: body weight. It is a very common point of discussion (particularly when people are setting resolutions at the beginning of the year or when summer is approaching). Many of us would like to weigh less for cosmetic reasons. And in most cases,
