Physical measurements on operated hyperthyroids.

Abstract

A better understanding of the relationship of physical measurements to body weight is necessary before a more certain basis for predicting normality of weight can be found. At present height is practically the sole basis. But height is a very stable measure in which adults are probably more nearly alike than for any other physical measurement. Stature has a co-efficient of variability of only 4 per cent, weight has around 12 per cent, and pelvic diameter as representative of bony body widths has approximately 9 per cent. If the bony widths of the body have so much variability as compared with bony lengths should they not be taken into account in estimating the normal weight, which of course is a cubic factor? A group of adult hyperthyroid cases were measured before, and again, six months after operation. Critical linear measures were carefully taken. The effort was for “bony measurement.” Data for 14 cases, 11 women and 3 men, are summarized. The average gain in weight was 9.1 kilograms, an increase of 17 per cent of the preoperation weight. The calories per kilogram decreased 37 per cent. Chest girth, a cross-sectional measure, increased 9 per cent, but the bony lengths gave almost no change; height, + 0.1; sternal notch height, +0.2, and sitting height, +0.4 per cent. Widths were not quite as fixed during this marked weight change as were lengths: shoulders (acromion) +2.3; chest (transverse diameter) +2.7; chest depth, +4.2, and pelvic maximum diameter, +0.5 per cent. The latter measure is remarkable constant with the individual. Since adults show relatively large differences among themselves in the linear skeletal widths, and, these measures show themselves quite constant in the individual adult, even under marked and rapid weight change, it is evident, if further data confirms, that some skeletal widths should appear in the formula for predicting normal weight.