Academy of Sciences] 

 No. 3] 



MEASUREMENTS 



21 



Academy group among those over 60 suggests that either the original stature of these subjects 

 was even higher than that of then- present contingent up to 60, or that incidentally they happen 

 to be somewhat better preserved than the present group of aged old American academicians. 



Weight of the Body 



The weight to be dealt with here is the weight stripped; where such a record could not be 

 had directly a due allowance (6 to 8 pounds) was made for the shoes and clothes. 



This determination lacks in accuracy, for many different scales had to be used. Further- 

 more, as the mass of the body in most subjects is seriously affected by age, the results can have 

 but a moderate value. The data on 135 subjects, in fair health, follow: 



Table 21. — Weight {in kilograms) 



Subjects 



Mean age, years 



A verage 



Minimum 



Maximum 



Range of variation in percentage of the average. 



CV_ 



Members of the Academy 



135 

 59. 67 

 73. 82 

 55. 79 

 98. 43 

 57. 76 

 9. 34 ±0.38 

 12.60 



Old Americans Not old Americans 



58. 90 



74. 16 ±0.73 



55.79 



98. 43 



57. 50 



10. 05 ±0. 52 



13. 56 ±0. 69 



47 



61.22 



73. 19 ±0. 77 



56. 70 



94.35 



51.30 



7. 73 ±0. 54 



10. 6S±0. 74 



Old Americans 

 at large (lab- 

 oratory series) 



232 

 37.2 

 68. 63 

 50. 35 

 98. 56 

 70. 25 



FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION— WEIQHT: MEMBERS OF THE ACADEMY 



Kilograms, 



Old Americans (88) 



Not old Americans (47) _ 



Percent 



4.5 



WEIGHT IN MEMBERS BY AGE 



Members of the Academy 



Old Americans 



Not old Americans 



Subjects to 60 years of age, inclusive 

 Average weight 



Over 60 years of age 



Average weight 



55 

 75. 68 



33 

 71.63 



21 



73.70 



26 



72.78 



Comments. — The academicians of the two series differ but slightly in average weight — what 

 difference there is, is in favor of the old Americans. The table of dispersion indicates that the 

 difference is of some moment, the old American group tending to mass somewhat higher as well 

 as lower than the more recent, and presenting nearly 5 percent of rather obese individuals to 

 none in the other series. The variability is thus significantly greater in the old American group. 



Compared with the old Americans at large, of materially lower mean age (37.2 years) the 

 academicians average by over 5 kilograms (11^ pounds) the heavier. This in all probability is a 

 result of more than one factor, including ample nourishment, predominantly sedentary habits 

 and lack of exercise, with consequent subactive metabolism. 



