Dimensions of Anthropometric Parameters and Sex Dimorphism of Apparently Healthy Indigenous People of Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Anthropometric data becomes increasingly useful in areas like health care, nutrition, and even forensic investigations, to better support medical decisions, nutritional planning, and identity verification tailored to the community’s unique characteristics. The study aims to determine sex differences in circumferential anthropometric body features of Rivers State indigenes of Nigeria. Method: The research design was a non-experimental, cross-sectional design. It made use of a total number of three hundred (300) subjects divided into (150) male and (150) female, whose ages ranged between 18 to 40 years. A direct anthropometric circumferential measurement method was used in this study with the subject in a standing position. Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS version 25.0) and Microsoft Excel 2019. Student t-test was used as an inferential statistic and p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Generally, the Mean value for neck circumference was 33.69±5.42, mid-arm circumference 26.31±4.96, chest circumference 83.60±12.18, waist circumference 75.08±14.37, hip circumference 92.36±50.97, mid-thigh circumference 50.01±10.36, abdominal circumference 73.09±13.33, leg circumference 36.19±6.33, head circumference 56.24±4.95, weight 64.70±11.21 and BMI 22.06±3.19. But the Mean circumferential parameters for the male subjects was as follows; neck circumference 34.59±4.41, mid-arm circumference 26.97±5.13, chest circumference 83.48±9.80, waist circumference 76.37±14.58, hip circumference 93.43±70.51, mid-thigh circumference 49.04±11.17, abdominal circumference 73.11±13.77, leg circumference 35.02±5.39, head circumference 56.11±5.59, weight 68.19±10.86 and BMI 21.81±3.00, and that of female showed neck circumference, mid-arm circumference, chest circumference, waist circumference, hip circumference, mid-thigh circumference, arm circumference, abdominal circumference, leg circumference, head circumference, weight and BMI as 32.75±6.18, 25.23±4.69, 83.74±14.28, 73.72±14.06, 91.24±11.23, 51.04±9.36, 73.07±12.89, 37.41±6.99, 56.38±4.20, 61.06±10.42, 22.32±3.36 respectively. Conclusion: The analysis confirms the presence of sexual dimorphism in neck, mid-arm, and leg circumferences as well as weight, while other measured anthropometric parameters showed no significant sex-based differences.