J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2009 Apr;20(2):199-203.

Measurement of Calf Circumference for Estimate the Adult Body Weight in the Emergency Department

• Kim JW
• Hur SB
• Hong DY
• Lee KR
• Baek KJ

Abstract

PURPOSE: There is no reliable body index to use in estimating adult body weight. The purpose of the study was to develop a body index that can estimate adult body weight and to perform a regression equation of body weight versus the body index
METHODS
We performed a prospective study. We measured body weight and various body indexes, including arm, wrist, calf, and ankle circumference, in the patients who visited our emergency department. A correlation analysis was performed between these body indexes and body weight, and a simple linear regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between the most correlative body index and body weight.
RESULTS
Two hundred five patients were enrolled. The correlation coefficient between body weight and calf, arm, wrist, and ankle circumference were, respectively, 0.919, 0.792, 0.546, and 0.432 for males and 0.913, 0.781, 0.476, and 0.430 for females. The body index with the greatest correlation to body weight was calf circumference. The regression equations were: male body weight = 2.510 x calf circumference - 25.673, and female body weight = 2.375 x calf circumference - 22.560.
CONCLUSION
The most reliable body index for estimating adult body weight is calf circumference.

Keyword

Adult; Body weight; Leg

MeSH Terms

Adult
Animals
Ankle
Arm
Body Weight
Emergencies
Female
Humans
Leg
Linear Models
Male
Prospective Studies
Wrist