The relationship between height and arm span, mid-upper arm and waist circumferences in children

Background: Height is a significant parameter in assessment of growth, development, and nutritional status. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between height and arm span, mid-upper arm and waist circumferences in Turkish children. Subjects and methods: Height, arm span, mid-upper arm and waist circumferences were measured in 1145 boys and 1372 girls aged 7-14 years old from metropolitan Ankara schools in Turkey. Results: Among the children aged between 7 and 14 years old the arm span was determined to be shorter than height. The correlation coefficient between height and arm span of children aged 7-10 years old was 0.92 for boys and 0.90 for girls, and was 0.89 for boys and 0.85 for girls aged 11-14 years old. The correlation between height and arm span was high in both genders at the age group of 7-10 years old. Moreover, significant correlations were found between the height, the mid-upper arm and waist circumferences. Conclusions: Arm span was found to be strongly correlated with height. Although mid-upper arm and waist circumferences were moderately correlated, waist circumference was not detected as a predictor for height in girls and boys.