ABSTRACT
We all experience changes in body size: quick growth during childhood followed by a period of fairly constant dimensions during adulthood for about 20–40 or more years until final variations come with senescence. The most common way to describe the bodies of populations, and of individuals as well, is by standing height (stature) and body weight. We can estimate body bulk, or we may ask persons about their body size, and if they know, they can tell us; however, with the current concerns about obesity in many countries, some respondents are likely to add a bit to their height and slightly reduce their weight. There are compilations of data describing the body sizes of populations in Russia, France, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and a few others; yet, unfortunately, similarly detailed information remains missing on most populaces, probably because it is so laborious and expensive to obtain.
