Body mass estimation by skeletal features in juvenile individuals

Body mass is one of the basic human characteristics used in various anthropological disciplines and can be used in behavioral and environmental studies of present and past populations. This thesis provides a brief summary of methods by which the body mass can be retrospectively reconstructed from skeletal dimensions in juvenile individuals. It also summarizes the important factors which may affect the weight reconstruction, as the child skeleton is more sensitive to environmental influences than the adult skeleton. The effects of nutrition, genetics, physical activity and ecogeography are discussed. Key words: body mass estimation, body mass, ontogeny, growth, postcranial skeleton