We explain what anthropometry is and what its function is in nutrition and architecture. Also, its relationship with ergonomics.
What is anthropometry?
Laa anthropometry (word formed by the Greek voices anthropos“man”, and metrikos“extent”) is the scientific study of measurement techniques of the human body. It is a branch of physical anthropology that is interested in the proportions of the human body and its different ways of interpreting them, especially when they allow comparisons over time or between human groups.
Ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians and the Greeks applied their own methods of measuring the human body, whether for practical or artistic purposes. However, anthropometry emerged in the 18th century, together with physical anthropology to the extent that human scholars wanted to establish physical and corporal comparisons between one “race” and another of humanity.
In 1870 appeared the Anthropometry by the Belgian Adolphe Quételet (1796-1874), considered the fundamental work in the structuring and foundation of formal anthropometric studies. On the other hand, In the mid-20th century, anthropometry finally demonstrated its practical value in industry in a period prolific in wars and weapons development.
Currently, the areas of application of anthropometry cover numerous areas and disciplines, driven by different intentions and motives, such as certain methods of public planning and measurement of the health of populations, for example, given that the average of the measurements of the body (height, thickness, weight) are indicative of the nutrition and health of families.
Static and dynamic anthropometry
Anthropometry is classified into two types: static and dynamic.
- Static or structural anthropometry It is dedicated to measuring the human body in its static dimensions, that is, in a fixed and determined position, whether standing or sitting, essential for the design of workplaces, furniture or environments.
- dynamic anthropometry or functional which, on the contrary, considers the human body in its enormous capacity for movement, that is, the human body doing things, such as in variable work positions, emphasizing the joints and dynamics of the body's extremities.
Anthropometry and ergonomics
Ergonomics is the discipline that studies how to adapt the work environment to the human body in the most harmonious and healthy way possible. Consequently, it is an important beneficiary of anthropometry.
Measurements of the human body and its physical understanding allow the design of tools and work environments that are increasingly more ergonomic, that is, less harmful to the human structure, and therefore less tiring and exhausting. This has a direct impact on productivity, since extends the work capacity of individuals, but also preserves the health of workers in the medium and long term.
So, ergonomic tools are configured taking into account anthropometric measurements of the human body, and therefore are better adapted to it.
Anthropometry in nutrition
Another important debtor of anthropometric measurement is nutrition, that is, the discipline that studies human nutrition and its medium and long-term impact on populations something very relevant for public health.
In this case, anthropometry collaborates with nutrition because measurements of the human body allow us to keep a record of how new generations grow and also to compare between social classes, social sectors and geographical areas of a country.
Furthermore, anthropometry indicates how new citizens are being born. Thus, together with nutrition, you can find the nutritional factors that can influence it: the greater the availability of nutritional resources, the greater the size of the human body; and vice versa.
Anthropometry in architecture
Architecture also owes a lot to anthropometry, since Knowledge of standard measurements of the human body is key in the design of living spaces. The way a space is designed directly affects the physical, emotional and psychological health of people, and for this reason it is vital to fully understand the dimensions of the human body.
References
- “Anthropometry” on Wikipedia.
- “Anthropometry, what is it?” at CEDIC Diagnostics (Argentina).
- “Anthropometry: what it is, what it measures and what it is for” in iNutrición Deportiva.
- “Anthropometry” at the National Institute of Safety and Hygiene at Work of Spain.
