Are adult physiques geometrically similar? The dangers of allometric scaling using body mass power laws

Nevill, Alan M.; Stewart, Arthur D.; Olds, Tim; Holder, Roger

doi:10.1002/ajpa.10351

Cited by 85 publications

(83 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…metabolic pathways. Nevertheless, by observing the muscular enlargement observed in the Croatian soccer players and also noting a similar muscular enlargement of the arms and legs in other human populations (Nevill et al 2004) and the proximal leg muscle mass of mammals (Alexander et al 1981), the present study is able to provide a simple biological explanation for the numerous studies that report inflated mass exponents b ! 0.75 when modelling variables such as maximal metabolic rate ( _ V VO 2 max), basal metabolic rate, leg strength and power.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

“…Darveau et al advocated combining a weighted sum of mass exponents, each estimated from a diverse range of control sites or processes known to contribute to metabolic pathways. However, the lack of geometric similarity of human physiques (Nevill et al 2004) confirms the dangers of using body-mass power functions to model MR (now known to lead to biased and inflated mass exponents). The alternative proposed methodology also recommends summing the exponents of relevant components, but suggests adopting linear dimensions of body size that will more accurately reflect, rather than disguise, the independent muscular development and body size contributions to both MR and in particular MMR ( _ V VO 2 max).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A explanation for the inflated _ V VO 2 max-mass exponents in humans was proposed by Nevill et al (2004), who observed that human adult physiques are not geometrically similar to each other. In both athletic and non-exercising controls, body circumferences/limb girths develop at a greater rate than that anticipated by geometric similarity in fleshy sites, containing both muscle and fat (upper arms and legs), and less than anticipated in bony sites (head, wrists and ankles).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Can greater muscularity in larger individuals resolve the 3/4 power-law controversy when modelling maximum oxygen uptake?

Nevill

Marković

Vučetić

et al. 2004

Annals of Human Biology

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Summary. Background: The power function relationship, MR ¼ aÁm b , between metabolic rate (MR) and body mass m has been the source of much controversy amongst biologists for many years. Various studies have reported mass exponents (b) greater than the anticipated 'surface-area' exponent 0.67, often closer to 0.75 originally identified by Kleiber. Aim: The study aimed to provide a biological explanation for these 'inflated' exponents when modelling maximum oxygen uptake ( _ V VO 2 max), based on the observations from this and previous studies that larger individuals develop disproportionately more muscle mass in the arms and legs. Research design and subjects: A cross-sectional study of 119 professional soccer players from Croatia aged 18-34 was carried out. Results: Here we confirm that the power function relationship between _ V VO 2 max and body mass of the professional soccer players results in an 'inflated' mass exponent of 0.75 (95% confidence interval from 0.56 to 0.93), but also the larger soccer players have disproportionately greater leg muscle girths. When the analysis was repeated incorporating the calf and thigh muscle girths rather than body mass as predictor variables, the analysis not only explained significantly more of the variance in _ V VO 2 max, but the sum of the exponents confirmed a surface-area law. Conclusions: These findings confirm the pitfalls of fitting body-mass power laws and suggest using muscle-girth methodology as a more appropriate way to scale or normalize metabolic variables such as _ V VO 2 max for individuals of different body sizes. IntroductionAn enduring mystery that has challenged biologists and physiologists alike for over a century is how metabolic rate (MR) is related to body size (see Voit 1901, cited by Kleiber 1987. Larger mammals expend more energy than smaller mammals due to the greater energy cost of metabolism and locomotion. However, if energy expenditure is expressed as a simple ratio standard, per unit body mass, smaller mammals consume more energy per unit body mass than larger mammals. A theoretical explanation for these observations is based on the assumption that energy expenditure obeys the surface-area law (Schmidt-Nielsen 1984, Weibel 2002.Assuming that mammals are geometrically similar to each other, individual body components (e.g. homologous muscles, hearts, lungs) should have masses proportional to body mass (m), cross-sectional or surface areas proportional to m 0.67 and linear dimensions (L), such as heights or limb girths, proportional to L ¼ m 0.33 . Under such circumstances, if energy expenditure obeys the surface-area law, then MR should be proportional to m 0.67 (or L 2 ).

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Can greater muscularity in larger individuals resolve the 3/4 power-law controversy when modelling maximum oxygen uptake?

Nevill

Marković

Vučetić

et al. 2004

Annals of Human Biology

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“…Alongside increased stature are increased girths, breadths and depths, although these do not precisely follow a pattern of geometric similarity (Nevill et al, 2004). Observed secular body weight increase necessarily reflects height and other dimensional increases, but in addition, the rising prevalence of global obesity (WHO, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The ability of UK offshore workers of different body size and shape to egress through a restricted window space

Stewart

Ledingham

Furnace³

et al. 2016

Applied Ergonomics

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“…sitting height), some of those previously accommodated may find themselves disaccommodated depending what the spatial constraints are. This is because different body dimensions are only moderately correlated with one another within a sample, a well recognised academic finding as the lack of 'geometric similarity' for different sized individuals (Nevill et al, 2004). Unsurprisingly, larger individuals in any occupational setting require more space than smaller people in order to move and work, and common practice is to design to the 95 th centile of male size.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Body size and ability to pass through a restricted space: Observations from 3D scanning of 210 male UK offshore workers

et al. 2015

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Offshore workers are subjected to a unique physical and cultural environment which has the ability to affect their size and shape. Because they are heavier than the UK adult population we hypothesized they would have larger torso dimensions which would adversely affect their ability to pass one another in a restricted space. A sample of 210 male offshore workers was selected across the full weight range, and measured using 3D body scanning for shape. Bideltoid breadth and maximum chest depth were extracted from the scans and compared with reference population data. In addition a size algorithm previously calculated on 44 individuals was applied to adjust for wearing a survival suit and re-breather device. Mean bideltoid breadth and chest depth was 51.4 cm and 27.9 cm in the offshore workers, compared with 49.7 cm and 25.4 cm respectively in the UK population as a whole. Considering the probability of two randomly selected people passing within a restricted space of 100 cm and 80 cm, offshore workers are 28% and 34% less likely to pass face to face and face to side respectively, as compared with UK adults, an effect which is exacerbated when wearing personal protective equipment

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Are adult physiques geometrically similar? The dangers of allometric scaling using body mass power laws

Cited by 85 publications

References 19 publications

Can greater muscularity in larger individuals resolve the 3/4 power-law controversy when modelling maximum oxygen uptake?

Can greater muscularity in larger individuals resolve the 3/4 power-law controversy when modelling maximum oxygen uptake?

The ability of UK offshore workers of different body size and shape to egress through a restricted window space

Body size and ability to pass through a restricted space: Observations from 3D scanning of 210 male UK offshore workers

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