True height and variability in estimates thereof across race and gender

Abstract

Although standing height is the ideal indicator of a subject’s true height, numerous internal and external factors can have an effect on its accuracy. These factors include measurement error, the clinical environment, growth and a secular change in growth, and age. When the measurement of standing height is not possible estimation methods, such as recumbent length, knee height, ulna length, half arm span, total arm span, demi-span equation and the World Health Organization equation have been used as substitutes. However, the accuracy of these methods is questionable.