Biody shapes- Men and women

Title of article:

Relating body mass index to figural stimuli: population-based normative data for Caucasians

Authors: Bulik CM,Wade TD, Heath AC, Martin NG, Stunkard AJ, Eaves LJ.
Journal: Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord, Oct 2001;25(10):1517-24

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To establish body mass index (BMI) norms for standard figural stimuli using a large Caucasian population-based sample. In addition, we sought to determine the effectiveness of the figural stimuli to identify individuals as obese or thin. DESIGN: All Caucasian twins born in Virginia between 1915 and 1971 were identified by publicbirth record. In addition, 3347 individual twins responded to a letter published in the newsletter of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). All adult twins (aged 18 and over) from both of these sources and their family members were mailed a 16 page 'Health and Lifestyle' questionnaire. SUBJECTS: BMI and silhouette data were available on 16 728 females and 11 366 males ranging in age from 18-100. MEASUREMENTS: Self-report information on height-weight, current body size, desired body size and a discrepancy score using standard figural stimuli. RESULTS: Gender- and age-specific norms are presented linking BMI to each of the figural stimuli. Additional norms for desired body size and discrepancy scores are also presented. Receiver operating curves (ROC) indicate that the figural stimuli are effective in classifying individuals as obese or thin. CONCLUSIONS: With the establishment of these norms, the silhouettes used in standard body image assessment can now be linked to BMI. Differences were observed between women and men in terms of desired body size and discrepancy scores, with women preferring smaller sizes. The figural stimuli are a robust technique for classifying individuals as obese or thin.

Comments and Key points

This interesting article proved that these "figures" in the picture below¹, are actually useful. People can describe themselves accurately by choosing a picture. Go ahead, try it yourself.

Men's average BMI for each figure-number was shown in this table

Men:	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
BMI:	19.8	21.1	22.2	23.6	25.8	28.1	31.5	35.2	41.5

Women's average BMI for each figure-number was:

Women:	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
BMI:	18.3	19.3	20.9	23.1	26.2	29.9	34.3	38.6	45.4

Did you try it? Does your actual BMI seem close to the averages from these tables?

Well, maybe not. It turns out that BMI changes with age, even if your body shape (figure-number) stays the same during your life. More on this below.

This article also showed that when obesity is defined as BMI of 30 or more, the graphs below showed that obese women had figure=6, and obese Men had figure=7 (or higher).

The article also did additional analyses and claims that figure=6 is the best overall definition of "obesity" for both men and women. However, their article lacked sufficient detail to prove this claim, and although it may be reasonable for women, my personal opinion, based on the graphs shown above, is that figure 7 is a more suitable definition of obesity for men.

Now, here an the interesting part: BMI changes with age. Consider slim women and men, with figure numbers 3 and 4. As the graph below shows, Men and Women who described their body figures as type 3 or 4, also had higher BMI values in middle ages, compared to younger or older adults. Said another way, it seems that, even if body shape stays stable with age, BMIwill change with age.

I was looking for evidence like this, and I think it is an important demonstration of what the appropriate curve-shape should be, of body mass index changing with age.

References

1. Standard figural stimuli. by Dr. A. Stunkard. From Stunkard A, Sorensen T, Schulsinger F. Use of the Danish Adoption Register for the study of obesity and thinness. In: Key S, Roland I, Sigman R, Matthysse S (eds). The genetics of neurological and psychiatric disorders. Raven Press: New York; 1983.

Review & comments by Steven B. Halls, MD, Last modified 23-June, 2008. Copyright
Return to Body Mass Index articles index.

You pay for free cell phones ... Ck your bill! Thanks Ramey H.!

THIS WILL SURELY MAKE YOUR BLOOD BOIL!

Check your Cell phone bill at the bottom. You're going to need some blood pressure pills after watching this one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjAjAvxDkfk&feature=share

The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. ~ Edmund Burke

Creek won't clear until you get the pigs out ... Thanks Denison Friend!

“You cannot get the water to clear up

until you get the pigs out of the creek.”

*SOME OF YOU MAY APPRECIATE THIS AND

SOME OF YOU MAY NOT.*

*I DO NOT APOLOGIZE FOR SENDING THIS

BECAUSE OF ITS TRUTH.*
*If any other of our presidents had doubled the national debt,

which had taken more than two centuries to accumulate, in one year,

would you have approved?*

*If any other of our presidents had then proposed to

double the debt againwithin 10 years,

would you have approved? *

*If any other of our presidents had criticized a state law

that he admitted he never even read,

would you think that he is just anignorant hot head? *

*If any other of our presidents joined the country of Mexico

and sued a state (Arizona) in the United States to force that state

to continue to allow illegal immigration, would you question his

patriotismand wonder who's side he was on? *

*If any other of our presidents had pronounced the

Marine Corps like Marine Corpse,

would you think him an idiot? *

*If any other of our presidents had put 87,000 workers

out of workby arbitrarily placing a moratorium on

offshore oil drillingon companies that have one of the best safety

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would you have agreed? *

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conference, would you have laughed and said this is more proof of

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smarter menbehind the scenes? *

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dollars to take his First Lady on a date to a play in NYC,

would you have approved? *

*If any other of our presidents had reduced your

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given the unions a majority stake in GM,

would you have approved? *

*If any other of our presidents had made a joke

at the expense of the Special Olympics,

would you have approved? *

*If any other of our presidents had given Gordon Brown

a set of inexpensive and incorrectly formatted DVDs,

when Gordon Brown had given him a thoughtful and historically

significant gift, would you have approved? *

*If any other of our presidents had given the Queen of England

an iPod containing videos of his speeches, would you have thought it

a proud moment for America ? *

*If any other of our presidents had bowed to the

King of Saudi Arabia

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made reference to the nonexistent "Austrian language,"

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*If any other of our presidents had filled his cabinet and

circle of advisers with people who cannot seem to keep current

in their income taxes,

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*If any other of our presidents had stated that there were

57 states in the United States , wouldn't you have had

second thoughts about his capabilities? *

*If any other of our presidents would have flown all the way to

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would benefit him walking out his front door in his home town,

would you not have thought he was a self-important,

conceited, egotistical jerk. *

*If any other of our presidents had been so Spanish illiterate

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when it was the 5th of May (Cinco de Mayo), and continued to flub it

when he tried again, wouldn't you have winced in embarrassment? *

*If any other of our presidents had burned 9,000 gallons of

jet fuel to go plant a single tree on Earth Day,

would you have concluded he's a hypocrite?*

*If any other of our presidents' administrations had okayed

Air Force One flying low over millions of people followed by a

jet fighter in downtown Manhattanto take pictures causing widespread panic,

would you have wondered whether they actually get

what happened on 9-11? *

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to flood victims throughout the Midwest with more people killed

or made homeless than in New Orleans , would you want it made

into a major ongoing political is sue with claims of

racism and incompetence? *

*If any other of our presidents had created the position of

32 Czars who report directly to him, bypassing the

House and Senate on much of what is happening in

America, would you have ever approved.*

*If any other of our presidents had ordered the firing of the

CEO of a major corporation, even though he had no

constitutional authority to do so, would you have approved?*

*So, tell me again,

what is it about Obama that makes him so brilliant and

impressive? *

*Can't think of anything?

Don't worry.

He's done all this in 39

months –

so you don’thave that much time to come

up with an answer.*

*Every statement and action in this email is factual

and directly attributable to Barrack Hussein Obama.

Every bumble is a matter of record and completely verifiable.*

AND NOW,--

HE ACTUALLY WANTS US TO RE-ELECT HIM!!!

WAKE UP AMERICA 2012 IS UPON US!!!

*I WONDER HOW MANY OF YOU

WILL FORWARD THIS ?*

I AM BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO TAKE A CHANCE

ON THIS GUY FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS . . .

*"All it takes for evil to triumph is

for good men to do nothing."*

The World dances! ... thanks Judi C.!

This has been around but is so fun you might want to watch again.

The World Dances

This will make you smile. Hope you enjoy the color and diversity!

http://www.youtube.com:80/watch_popup?v=Pwe-pA6TaZk&feature=player_embedded

Positive attitude! ... Thanks Lyle S.!

HOW TO START EACH DAY

WITH A POSITIVE OUTLOOK

1. Open a new file in your computer.

2. Name it 'Barack Obama'.

3. Send it to the Recycle Bin.

4. Empty the Recycle Bin.

5. Your PC will ask you,

'Do you really want to get rid of 'Barack Obama?'

6. Firmly Click 'YES.'

7. Feel better?

GOOD....

Tomorrow we'll do Nancy Pelosi