Use of girth measurements for estimating body volume and body density in Indian girls aged 10-19 years.

Mean values and standard deviations of total body volume, body density, height, weight, and a battery of 20 girth measurements of 200 Punjabi girls aged 10-19 years are presented. Selective stepwise multiple regression equations for predicting total body volume and body density from girth measurements are also given for different age groups. Hip girth was the most commonly selected measurement at the first step in most age groups and the values of 'r' between hip girth and total body volume ranged between 0.86-0.96 in different age groups. The values of multiple 'R' between total body volume and a combination of first four selected girth measurements varied from 0.96-0.99 in different age groups. The values of multiple 'R' between body density and a combination of four girth measurements selected up to fourth step ranged between 0.73-0.92 in different age groups.