Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (566 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
The technique that deals with the measurement of the size, weight, and proportions of the human or other primate body.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Physical Examination; Investigative Techniques; Biometry
- Narrower topics
- Cephalometry; Digit Ratios; Kinanthropometry; Odontometry; Pelvimetry; Body Weights and Measures; Body Mass Index; Crown-Rump Length
- See also
- Body Composition; Body Weights and Measures
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 607,360 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Anthropometry” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 93,797 of them (15.4%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2010-2019 with 205,454 records.
Reviews account for 26,718 records (4.4%) and meta-analyses for 5,982. Randomized controlled trials number 23,838 (3.9%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 187,472 |
| 2000-2009 | 120,637 |
| 2010-2019 | 205,454 |
| 2020 onward | 93,797 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 26,718 | 4.4% |
| Meta-analyses | 5,982 | 1.0% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 23,838 | 3.9% |
Method: PubMed query "Anthropometry"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in public health and nutrition
Population and nutrition studies mostly observe what people eat, breathe or are exposed to and then look for links with health, which shows association and not proof of cause. Self-reported diet is imprecise, people who eat or live differently also differ in other ways, and effects measured across a population may not apply to one person. Check the study design, how exposure was measured, what else was accounted for and the size of the effect, not only whether it was statistically significant.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Developmental bias of body size and caste by the fire ant social supergene | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42838556 · DOI · PMC13641908 |
| Prehypertension, Hypertension, and Their Association With Weight-Adjusted Waist Index in Normoglycemic Japanese Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42494091 · DOI · PMC13396699 |
| How Does Weight Stigma Impact Healthcare Settings? Evidence From Chilean Patients Seeking Healthcare | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42702778 · DOI · PMC13547589 |
Developmental bias of body size and caste by the fire ant social supergene [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Supergenes are clusters of linked genes that drive complex phenotypic divergence.
- Closing excerpt
- Overall, our results are consistent with incompletely penetrant effects of a supergene on developmental trajectories linked to size-based caste allocation in a highly social insect.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (166 words)
Supergenes are clusters of linked genes that drive complex phenotypic divergence. In the fire ant Solenopsis invicta, a supergene determines polymorphic social organization, and its derived (b) haplotype is over-represented among large workers and gynes relative to the ancestral (B) haplotype, acting as a selfish genetic element. We tested whether this caste bias reflects altered juvenile hormone (JH) mediated growth by treating colonies with a JH analogue. We show that BB and Bb pupae reach similar maximal sizes and exhibit a comparable JH-mediated growth response despite consistent Bb over-representation in the upper size classes. We also used developmental gene expression data from another ant to reveal significantly enriched overlap between genes with differential expression by supergene genotype and orthologues with differential expression between gyne- and worker-destined larvae. This overlap could be shaped in part by observed cis-regulatory evolution of the supergene. Overall, our results are consistent with incompletely penetrant effects of a supergene on developmental trajectories linked to size-based caste allocation in a highly social insect.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42838556 · DOI · PMC13641908
Prehypertension, Hypertension, and Their Association With Weight-Adjusted Waist Index in Normoglycemic Japanese Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- ObjectiveObesity, impaired glucose tolerance, and diabetes significantly increase hypertension risk.
- Closing excerpt
- ConclusionsOur study demonstrated a positive linear correlation of WWI with both prehypertension and hypertension risk in normoglycemic Japanese individuals.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (174 words)
ObjectiveObesity, impaired glucose tolerance, and diabetes significantly increase hypertension risk. Previous studies across various populations have linked the weight-adjusted waist index (WWI)-a key indicator for assessing obesity-to hypertension. However, this relationship remains unclear specifically in non-diabetic populations, particularly normoglycemic individuals. Focusing on normoglycemic Japanese adults, the present study explored the correlation of WWI with prehypertension or hypertension.MethodsData sourced from the program for medical screening at Murakami Memorial Hospital (Japan) were subjected to secondary analysis, which included 15,464 participants. To quantify the relationship of the WWI with prehypertension (pre-HTN) or hypertension (HTN), multivariable logistic regression analyses were applied. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were further applied to evaluate the dose-response relationship of WWI with the two outcomes. Subgroup analyses were also conducted.ResultsAmong 15,453 normoglycemic Japanese adults, the mean WWI increased progressively across blood pressure categories (normal 0.05). Subgroup analyses revealed a stronger association between WWI and prehypertension in females, individuals without fatty liver disease, and current smokers.ConclusionsOur study demonstrated a positive linear correlation of WWI with both prehypertension and hypertension risk in normoglycemic Japanese individuals.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42494091 · DOI · PMC13396699
How Does Weight Stigma Impact Healthcare Settings? Evidence From Chilean Patients Seeking Healthcare [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- IntroductionWeight stigma in healthcare settings refers to the prejudiced devaluation of individuals with higher body weight, often manifested through causal attribution comments.
- Closing excerpt
- These findings highlight the importance of implementing public policy reforms and providing training for healthcare professionals.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (226 words)
IntroductionWeight stigma in healthcare settings refers to the prejudiced devaluation of individuals with higher body weight, often manifested through causal attribution comments. This stigma reflects a complex interplay of psychological and behavioral processes that may contribute to outcomes such as medical avoidance.ObjectiveTo determine whether weight stigma in healthcare settings is directly associated with internalized weight stigma, uncontrolled eating, and medical avoidance, and whether these associations are mediated through a serial pathway culminating in healthcare avoidance.MethodA cross-sectional study was conducted with 309 healthcare users in Chile (Mage = 37.72 years; SD = 15.68; 75% women), using self-report measures and structural equation modeling.ResultsAll direct effects were significant, except for the path between weight stigma and uncontrolled eating. The serial mediation via internalized weight stigma and uncontrolled eating was supported (βindirect = 0.041, p 0.046; 12.06% of the total effect), as was the simple mediation via internalized stigma alone (βindirect = 0.071, p = 0.048; 20.88%). Mediation through uncontrolled eating alone was not significant (βindirect = 0.013, p = 0.239). The total effect of weight stigma in healthcare settings on medical avoidance was significant (βTotal = 0.340, p ConclusionWeight stigma in healthcare settings negatively impacts psychological and behavioral health. Addressing weight stigma is essential to reducing avoidance behaviors and improving continuity of care. These findings highlight the importance of implementing public policy reforms and providing training for healthcare professionals.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42702778 · DOI · PMC13547589
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Prenatal and perinatal risk and protective factors for psychosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis [4]
- Research article Association of maternal thyroid function with birthweight: a systematic review and individual-participant data meta-analysis [5]
- Research article Anthropometric and adiposity indicators and risk of type 2 diabetes: systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of cohort studies [6]
- Research article Weight Gain Associated with COVID-19 Lockdown in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis [7]
- Research article Hepatocellular carcinoma tumour volume doubling time: a systematic review and meta-analysis [8]
- Research article Efficacy of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Weight Loss, BMI, and Waist Circumference for Patients With Obesity or Overweight: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, and Meta-regression of 47 Randomized Controlled Trials [9]
References
- Zeng H, Eidson CE, Cushman DA, Nascimento M, Jones BM, Hunt BG. Developmental bias of body size and caste by the fire ant social supergene. . 2026. PMID 42838556 · DOI · PMC13641908
- Fan J, Wang L, Li F, Ruan S, Tian Y, Wang Q, et al.. Prehypertension, Hypertension, and Their Association With Weight-Adjusted Waist Index in Normoglycemic Japanese Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study. . 2026. PMID 42494091 · DOI · PMC13396699
- Bastías-González F, Gómez-Pérez D. How Does Weight Stigma Impact Healthcare Settings? Evidence From Chilean Patients Seeking Healthcare. . 2026. PMID 42702778 · DOI · PMC13547589
- Davies C, Segre G, Estradé A, Radua J, De Micheli A, Provenzani U, et al.. Prenatal and perinatal risk and protective factors for psychosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Psychiatry. 2020. PMID 32220288 · DOI
- Derakhshan A, Peeters RP, Taylor PN, Bliddal S, Carty DM, Meems M, et al.. Association of maternal thyroid function with birthweight: a systematic review and individual-participant data meta-analysis. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2020. PMID 32445737 · DOI · PMC8168324
- Jayedi A, Soltani S, Motlagh SZ, Emadi A, Shahinfar H, Moosavi H, et al.. Anthropometric and adiposity indicators and risk of type 2 diabetes: systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of cohort studies. BMJ. 2022. PMID 35042741 · DOI · PMC8764578
- Chang TH, Chen YC, Chen WY, Chen CY, Hsu WY, Chou Y, et al.. Weight Gain Associated with COVID-19 Lockdown in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2021. PMID 34684669 · DOI · PMC8540321
- Nathani P, Gopal P, Rich N, Yopp A, Yokoo T, John B, et al.. Hepatocellular carcinoma tumour volume doubling time: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Gut. 2021. PMID 32398224 · DOI · PMC7657990
- Wong HJ, Sim B, Teo YH, Teo YN, Chan MY, Yeo LLL, et al.. Efficacy of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Weight Loss, BMI, and Waist Circumference for Patients With Obesity or Overweight: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, and Meta-regression of 47 Randomized Controlled Trials. Diabetes Care. 2025. PMID 39841962 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.