FROM VITAL & HEALTH STATISTICS OF THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EIY.JCATION,AND WELFARE I No. 3 November 19, 1976 I Public Health Service. H@~@j_ E.tration 

-? 

puB~/cA~/OK& 

~f)/~0~/4i ilB~~Y 

Height and Weight of Adults 18-74 Years of Age in the United States’ 

The height and weight measurements in this 

report were-obtained a; a part of the Health and 

Nutrition Examination Survey (HANES). 

HANES is a program in which measures of nutritional status are collected for a scientifically designed sample representative of the civilian noninstitutionalized population of the United States 

in a broad range of ages, 1-74 years.z 

The HANES findings are based on examinations of the 13,671 

from a total group of 

aged 1-74 years in the 

(PSU’S) which make 

tionwide probability 

persons aged 18-74 years 

20,749 examined persons 

65 primary sampling units 

up the total sample. A nasample of 28,043 persons 

was selected to be examined in 65 PSU’S, which 

were visited between April 1971 and June 1974. 

The HANES nutrition examination included a 

1This report prepared by Sidney Abraham, Clifford 

L. Johnson, and Matthew F. Najjar, Division of Health 

Examination Statistics. 

2National Center for Health Statistics: Plan and operation of the Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 

United States, 1971-1973. Vital and Health Statistics. 

Series I-Nos. 10a and 10b. DHEW Pub. Nos. (HRA) 

76-1310 (lOa) and (HShl) 73-1310 (lOb). Health Resources Administration. Washington. U.S. Government 

Printing Office, Feb. 1973. 

generaI medical examination for indicators of 

nutritional deficiencies by a physician, a skin examination by a dermatologist, and a dental examination by a dentist. Body measurements 

were taken by a trained technician; a dietary 

interview, consisting of a 24-hour recall of food 

consumption and a food frequency questionnaire, was administered; and numerous Laboratory tests were performed on whole bIood, serum, pIasma, and urine. A description of the 

sampling process, HANES operation, and response rates has been pubIished.z 

Est i mates in this report are based on 

weighted observations. The data obtained for 

the examined persons were inflated to the level 

of the total population using the appropriate 

weights to account for both sampling fractions 

and response results. National estimates of the 

distribution of height and weight among the 

U.S. population based on findings from the 

HANES program will be anaIyzed and discussed 

in a future report: “Height and Weight Measurements of Adults 18-74 Years: United States, 

1971 -74,” Vital and Health Statistics, Series 11. 

Selected data from that report are discussed here 

and shown in tables 1-7. 

Advance Data from Vital and Health StatL-tics replaces the supplements to the Monthly Vital Statistics Report 

as the means for early release of selected findings from the health and demographic surveys conducted by the 

NCHS. Most of these releases will be folIowed by detailed reports in the Vital and Health Statktics series. 

Provisional vital statistics as well as advance reports of final data for a year will continue to be published in the 

Monthly Vital Statistics Report. 

Advance Data is being distributed on the mailing keys for the Vital and Health Statistics series, and people 

who now receive reports from a particular series will also receive all Advance Data releases for that series. 

Temporarily, the mailing list for the Monthly Vital Statistics Report (MVSR) is also being used. M VSR readers 

who wish to continue to receive Advance Data issues, as well as other persons who wish to receive all issues, 

should contact: 

National Center for Heakh Statistics 

Room 8-20 

5600 Fishers Lane 

Roclwille, Maryland 20852 

Phone: (301) 443-1200 
2“ 

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS 

The mean weight of men aged 18-74 years 

was 172 pounds. The mean weight of men increased from 165 pounds in age group 18-24 

years to 178 pounds in age group 35-44 years. 

Thereafter, it decreased with age to 175 pounds 

in age group 45-54 years, 171 pounds at 55-64 

years, and a low of 164 pounds in the oldest age 

group measured, 65 years and over. 

The mean weight of women was 143 

pounds, 29 pounds less than that for men. The 

mean weight increased with age from a low of 

132 pounds at 18-24 years to a high of 149 

pounds at ages 45-64 years and then declined to 

146 pounds in the oldest age group. 

The cross-sectional data on body measurements of adults were obtained on different age 

cohorts. The age trends show the mean body 

measurements for successive cohorts of persons 

of different age groups and reflect the effect of 

different environmental as well as hereditary influences. The limitations of cross-sectional data 

are recognized in considering group age changes. 

The mean height for men aged 18-74 was 

69.0 inches. The highest mean height, 69.7 

inches, was found in the youngest age group, 

Figure 1. MEAN HEIGHT IN INCHES OF U.S. ADULTS 18-74 

YEARS BY AGE AND SEX. 

k ‘“”””----. . .. . .. . . .. . . .. . . . ... .. .. .. !? 64 . . ... .. .... ... .. : 

... ... ... 63 ..... .. 

.. . ... .. .. .. 

62 

61 

0 

60 1,,,, 18.24 25-34 3544 45.54 5544 65 and

over 

AGE IN YEARS 

18-24 years, and is 2.4 inches taller than the — 

height in age group 65 years and over, 67.3 

inches. This corresponds with a small decrease in 

height with increasing age, which averages less 

than one-half inch per decade of age over the 

range 18-74 years. 

Among women the mean height was 63.6 

inches, 5.4 inches less than the mean height 

among men. The mean height for women was 

highest (64.3 inches), in the youngest age group, 

as it was for men. The mean height decreased 

slightly to 64.1 inches at 25-34 years, remained 

constant at 35-44 years, and then declined to 

63.6 inches at 45-54 years, 62.8 inches at 55-64 

years, and 62.3 inches in the oldest age group, 

65 $,ears and over. The difference between the 

youngest and oldest age groups is 2.0 inches. 

The decrease in height with age averages less 

than one-half inch per decade over the age range 

of 18-74 years. 

In each of the five age groups in the range 

18-64 years white men were taller than Negro 

men. The average difference between heights of 

white and Negro men in the same age group was 

about one-half inch. At age group 65 years and 

over, however, the mean height for Negro and o 

white men was the same. This pattern by age 

and race is not observed for women. At age 

groups 18-24 and 25-34 years, white women 

were, on the average, 0.25 inches taller than Negro women. At ages 35-44, Negro women were 

Figure 2. MEAN WEIGHT IN POUNDS OF US. ADULTS 18-74 

YEARS BY AGE AND SEX. 

200 

MEN 

[ 

$ WOMEN g 

$ 150 .# .. .. .. .. .. ... . ..- .. . ... . .. ... . .. .. .. . ....... .... .... 

.... /.. I....

. ....”. 

........ 

125)__ 

I I I I I 

16.24 25.34 35.44 45.54 55.64 65 and 

over 

AGE IN YEARS 

— 
--

3 

0.1 inch taller than white women; at ages 45-54, 

they were 0.2 inch taller; and at ages 65 and 

over, they were 0.3 inch taller. At ages 55-64 

years, the mean height for both races was the 

same. 

Mean weights increased among white men 

from a low of 165 pounds at 18-24 years to a 

high of 178 pounds at 35-44 years. Among Negro men, mean weight increased consistently 

with age from 166 pounds at ages 18-24 years to 

182 pounds at ages 35-44 years. The mean 

weights of both Negro and white men decreased 

with age from the group 45-54 years on. Negro 

and white men showed little consistent difference in mean weights among the different age 

groups. 

Data on weight by age for Negro and white 

women tend to parallel those seen for men, with 

the exception that the increase in mean weight 

of women continued up to the age group 45-54 

years and then declined. However, at each age 

Negro women had larger mean weights than 

white women, with the differences between 

races being very large, averaging about 20 

pounds heavier for the age groups 35-64 years. 

Although heights of U.S. aduIts as measured 

from the H<h &d Nutrition Examination Survey, 1971-74, were taller than those from the 

Figure 3. MEAN HEIGHT IN INCHES OF U.S.ADULTS 18.74 

YEARS BY AGE, SEX, AND RACE. 

~ 

67 

:Y —white 

3 

~ 66 .- .Negra 

~ WOMEN 

Z 65 ... ...lJJ~* 

g _- Negro ... ... . ... .. ... .. . .. ... . . :64 .— ____ -.~.-

Z . ...”++. 

63 \%_ 

. . . . . . . . . . . . .. 

62 

t 

61 

60 

0 ~, I I I I I 

18.24 25.34 3544 45.54 55.64 65 anc 

over 

AGE IN YEARS 

Health Examination Survey (HES), 1960 -62,3 

the differences are numerically small. HANES 

data for men’s heights range from less than 

one-half inch to an inch taller than the HES 

data. Corresponding values for women are from 

less than one-half inch to slightly more than 

three-quarters of an inch taller. 

U.S. aduIts in HANES were heavier than 

those in HES. The HANES data on weights for 

men are consistently higher by an average of 6 

pounds across the age range 18-74 years; for 

women they are higher by an average of 3 

pounds for this age range. 

Relatively more men and women in the most 

recent survey, 1971-74, are tzdler than those 

in HES, 1960-62. Fifty-one percent of the men 

in HANES were 69 inches or taller as compared 

to 38 percent in HES across the age range of 

18-74 years. The corresponding values for 

HANES and HES for heights of 70 inches or 

more are 36 percent and 28 percent, respectively. In this age range, 45 percent of the 

women in HANES were 64 inches or taIler as 

3National Center for Health Statistics: Weight, 

height, and selected body dimensions of adults, Umrted 

States. 1960-1962. Vital and Health Statistics. Series 

11-No; 8. DHEW Pub. No. (HRA) 76-1074. Health Resources Administration. Washington. U.S. Government 

Printing Office, June 1965. -

~9Ure 4. kIEAN WEIGHT IN POIJNDS (JF U.S. ADULTS 18.74 

YEARS BY AGE, SEX, AND RACE. 

MEN 

— White 

.- .Negm 203 

WOh!EN 

.... . . wl~*~ 

Negro 

j 175 //_-

5 \’. ~ 

w / 

/T \ 

g 150 ..... ... . .. . . .. . .. .. . . ... . . .... .. ... . .... . .. ... ... .. . .. .. /“ ...... ,/ .. ...... .. ....... . .... .. 

125 1 0 

16-24 25.34 3544 45.54 5564 65 and 

over 

AGE IN YEARS 
--

--- ----

---

--

------

---

-------------------------------------- ---

-----------------------------

--------------------------------------------

----------------------------

4 I 

Figure 5. MEAN HEIGHT IN INCHES OF U.S. ADULTS 18-74 

YEARS IN HES (1960-62) AND HANES (1971-74]. 

LO HES, 196062


$ 66 _-. Men
 s


~ ~omen


. .. .. . . 

~ 65 

$ HANES, 1971-74 

s ‘“”----- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . — Men 

z 

z 64 

——— 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Women 

63 1 ‘\ 

w< 

. . . .. .

.

.. . . 

. . . . . . . . . . . 

\ 

62 \\... 

61 

60 

0 [, 1 1 I ! 1 

18-24 25.34 3544 45.54 55.64 65 and 

over 

AGE IN YEARS 

compared to 37 percent for HES. The corresponding vaIues for HANES and HES for 65 

inches and more are 30 percent and 21 percent, 

respectively. 

The proportions of men and women whose 

height exceeded any other specified height may 

be found from the data presented in tabIes 4 and 

6. 

Figure 6. MEAN WEIGHT IN POUNDS OF U.S. ADULTS 18-74 

YEARS IN HES (1860-62) AND HANES (1971-74). 

HES, 1960.62 

Zoil	 Men 

~~mc” 

HANES, 7971.74 

— Men 

m . . . . . . ~~m~” 

5 175 

> 

0 ,----- ~ 

L // -+ -. g -.-

,. / /“ 

~ 

~ 

& 150 .. . . . . . . . . . . . ..-..	 -----.---...4-N // P.% 

. . . ..

--”-.. >-- .. .. .. . 

// .“-. 

. . ..-

//’ 

125 

1~ 

TECHNICAL NOTES 

The sampling plan of the Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HANES) folIowed a 

highly stratified multistage probability design in 

which a sample was selected of the civilian noninstitutionalized population of the coterminous 

United States 1-74 years of age. Successive elements dealt with in the process of sampling were 

the primary sampling unit (PSU), census enumeration district (ED), segment (cluster of 

households), household, eligible person, and finally, sample person. The sampling design focused special attention on groups of people 

known to be at greater risk of malnutrition by 

oversampling these groups-the poor, preschool 

children, women of childbearing ages, and the 

elderly. 

All height and weight data presented are 

based on “weighted” observations. That is, data 

recorded for each sample person were inflated to 

characterize the subuniverse from which that 

sample person was drawn. For each examined 

person, this is a product of the reciprocal of the 

probability of selecting the person, an adjustment for nonresponse cases (i.e., persons not examined), and a posts gratified ratio adjustment 

which increases precision by bringing survey results into closer ali~ment with known U.S. population figures for 20 age, race, and sex groups 

as of November 1, 1972, the approximate midpoint of HANES. 

SYMBOLS 

Data not available 

Category not applicable . . . 

Quantity zero -

Quantity more than O but less than 0.05--- 0.0 

Figure does not meet standards of 

reliability or precision * 

18.24 25.34 3544 45-54 55.64 65 and 

over 

AGE IN YEARS 
-------

-------

-------

-------

-------

-------

-------

-------

-------

-------

-------

-------

-------

-------

-------

-------

-------

-------

-------

-------

5 

m— Table 1. Height in inches of adults aged 18-74 years, by sex and age: sample size, estimatedpopulationin


thousands,mean, standarddeviation,standarderror of the mean, and selectedpercentiles,United states,


1971-74


Estimated Percentile


Sex and age Sample population ~e= Standard Standard


size in deviation :go:e::


thousands 5th 10th 25th 50th 75th 90th 95th


Men Ill —
 Height in inches

.
 Women


18-74 years- 5,260 60,565 69.0 ~ 2.8 0.07 164.4 65.5 67.1 69.0 

I I I I I 

18-24 years

25-34 years 

772 

804 

11,351 69.7 

12,766 69.6 

2.8 0.18 65.1 

0.12 64.8 

66.1 

66.0 

67.8 

67.6 

69.7 

69.5 

74.4 

74.3 

35-44 years 665 10,804 69.1 $:; 0.13 64.7 65.8 67.3 69.2 73.4 

45-54 years 765 11,260 68.9 2.6 0.13 64.7 65.6 67.1 68.8 73.2 

55-64 years 597 8,888 68.3 2.6 0.16 64.1 65.1 66.7 68.2 72.5 

65 years and over- 1,657 5,496 67.3 2.6 0.08 63.2 T64.2 65.6 67.3 71.6

18-74 years- 844 67,372 63.6 2.5 0.04 59.5 60.5 62.0 63.7 65.3 66.8 67,8
 —
T 18-24 years 1,524 12,111 64.3 2.5 0.08 60.2 61.2 62.6 64.3 

==l=J=

65.8 67.4 68.4 

25-34 years 1,896 13,996 :5.; 2.4 0.08 60.2 61.2 62.4 64.0 65.7 67.3 68.2 

35-44 years 1,663 11,772 0.09. 59.9 60.8 62.3 64.1 65.7 67.3 68.4 

45-54 years 836 12,264 63;6 ;:: 0.10 59.9 60.6 62.1 63.7 65.2 66.7 67.3 

55-64 years 670 9,953 62.8 2.4 0.10 58.6 59.6 61.2 62.8 64.5 65.6 66.6 

65 years and ovex- 1,822 7,277 62.3 2.4 0.08 58.2 59.3 60.8 62.3 63.9 65,3 66.2 

I I I I I 

NOTE: Height was measuredwithout shoes.


oTable 2. Weight in pounds of adults aged 18-74 years, by sex and age: sample size, estimatedpopulationin 

thousands,mean, standarddeviation, standarderror of the mean, and selectedpercentiles,United States,

1971-74 

Estimated Percentiles 

Sex and age Sample population Standard Standard 

error of . size in Mea deviation the mea thousands 5th 10th 25th 50th 75th 9Qth 95th 

—— 

—
Men Weight in pounds


18-74 years- 5,260 60,565 0.64 128 137 152 170 189 211 225


==+==== 

18-24 years

25-34 years 

772 

804 

11,351 165 

12,766 176 

29.6 

35.0 

1.64 

1.45 

124 

132 

132 

140 

145 

153 

161 

172 

180 

193 

204 

217 

222 

233 

35-44 years 665 10,804 178 30.0 1.56 132 143 160 176 196 213 225 

45-54 years 765 11,260 175 29.2 1.12 130 139 157 175 192 21.5 225 

55-64 years 597 8,888 171 30.0 1.28 125 137 152 170 187 208 222 

65 years and over- 1,657 5,496 164 27.0 0.88 122 130 147 163 180 198 211 

Women


67,372 =4=== 1 

18-24 years

25-34 years 

1,524 

1,896 

12,111 132 27.4 

13,996 140 32.0 

0.69 

0.82 

100 

103 

106 

109 

114 

119 

128 

132 

142 

152 

163 

181 

181 

202 

35-44 years 1,663 11,772 148 35.0 1.14 109 114 124 139 163 195 215 

45-54 years 836 12,264 149 32.0 1.39 109 114 127 145 164 191 213 

55-64 years 670 9,953 149 33.3 1.26 104 111 128 144 166 191 203 

65 years and over- 1,822 7,277 146 29.1 1,07 105 112 126 142 163 183 195 I ! 

18-74 years- 8,411 0.53 104 110 122 137 159 185 203


NOTE: Total weights of s1l clothingranged from 0.20 to 0.62 lb.,whichis not deducted from weights shown


in table.

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Table 3. Height!in inches of adults aged 18-74 years, by sex, race, and age: sample size, estimated population in thousands,mean, e standard deviation, standard error of the mean, and selected percentiles, United States, 1971-74 

Estimsted Percentile
 Standard
 sex, race, and age s~z: popu~ion Mean Standard


deviation :%:,:: ‘ ~th
 thousands 10th 25th 50th 75th 90th 95th


I I I 

mylh Height in inches 

18-74 years---- 4,343 54,109 69.1 2.8 0.08 64.6 I 65.6 I 67.2 69.1 70.9 I 72.7 73.6 

18-24 years 625 9,849 69.8 2.8 0.20 65.3 66.3 67.9 69.8 71,4 73.4 74.5 25-34 years 672 11,191 69,7 2.8 0.13 65.3 66.3 67.7 69.7 71.7 73.4 74.3 35-44 years 570 9,s57 69.2 0.13 64.8 65.9 67.5 69.3 71.X 72.6 73.4 45-54 years 628 10,117 68.9 ::: 0.14 64.7 65.6 67.2 68.9 70.7 72.5 ;;.; 55-64 years 504 8,125 68.3 2.6 0.17 64,2 65.1 66.7 68.2 70.1 71,7 65 years and over---- 1,344 4,970 67.3 2.6 0.09 63.2 64.2 65.6 67.3 69.1 70.6 71:7 

Negro


18-74 years 847 5,730 68.6 2.8 0.16 64.1 64.8 66.8 68.6 70.6\ 72.41 73.3


18-24 years 132 1,287 69.5 2.8 0.45 64.6 65.3 67.4’ 69.8 71.7 72.9 73,6
 25-34 y~rS 119 1,377 68.6 2.9 0.38 64.1 ;:.: 66.6 68.6 70.6 72.6 73.7
 35-44 years 820 69.1 0.44 62.4 67.2 69.2 71.3 72.8 74.3
 45-54 years 1:; 1,087 68.2 ;:: 0.26 64.5 65:4 66.6 67.9 69.5 ;j.; 72.3
 55-64 years 672 68.2 2.3 0.32 64.1 64.4 66,6 68.1 70.1 71.8
 65 years and over---- 294 486 67.3 2.4 0.18 63.1 64.2 65.6 67.5 69.1 70:2 70.9


/ WOMEN
 I I m18-74 years---- 6,758 59,482 63.7 2.5 0.05 59.5 60.6 62.0 63.7 65.31 66.8[ 67.8


18-24 years 1,165 10,298 64.3 2.5 0.09 60.3 61.3 62.7 64.3 65.9 67.4 68,4 25-34 years 1,539 12,33S 64.1 0.08 60.2 61.2 62.4 64.1 65.8 67.3 68.3 35-44 years 1,;:: 10,250 64.1 ::: 0.09 60.1 60.9 62.4 64.1 65.7 67.3 68.4 45-54 years 11,091 63.6 2.4 0.11 59.9 60.6 62.0 63.7 65.2 66.7 :;.: 55-64 years 552 8,905 62.8 2.4 0.11 58.6 59.7 61.2 62.8 64.5 65.6 65 years and over---- 1,496 6,601 t62.3 2.4 0.09 58,2 59.2 60.7 62.3 63.9 65.3 66:2 

Negro


18-74 years 1,557 7,268 63.7 2.5 0.09 59.6 60.6 62.1 63,7 65,31 66.8 I 67,8


18-24

25-34 years years 329 335 1,618 

1,540 

64.0 

63,9 2.4 

2.3 0.20 0.20 60.2 60.2 60.9 61.2 :;.$ 63.7 

64.0 65.3 

65.4 66.9 

67.1 68.1 67.8
o
 35-44 years 334 1,354 64.2 2,5 0.19 59.8 60,7 62:8 64.3 65.6 67,7 68.8


45-54 years 126 1,131 63.8 2.2 0.30 60.2 60.7 62.3 63.6 65.6 66.8 67.6
 55-64 years lls 971 62.8 2.6 0.24 58.4 59.5 61.3 62.8 64.7 66.2 66.9
 65 years and over---- 318 654 62.6 2.4 0.18 58.7 59.6 61.2 62.5 64.1 65.5 66.2


NOTE: Height was measured without shoes.


Table 4. Cumulativepercent distributionof height in inches of adult males, according to age: United States, HES (1960-62)and


3L4NES(1971-74)


Age


Iieight 18-74 years 18-24 years 25-34 yea?x 35-44 years 45-54 years 55-64 years 65 years and over
 in inches


l:;o- KJ71- l:;o- 1971- l:;o-
 74 74


Under 60------ 0.1 0.1 -1 

Under 61------ 0.3 0.4 O.z 0.1 ~der 62----- 1.0 0.7 0.; :.$ 0.2 Under 63------ 1.7 1.5 1.5 Under 64------ ::: 3.7 3.7 2:7 3.1 Under 65------ 12.4 ~der 66------ 19.1 1::: 1::: ;:: 1;:: Under 67------ 32.1 23.5 28.6 16.9 22.1 Under 68------ 44.0 35.9 41.3 26.4 33.0 Under 69------ 62.1 49.5 56.1 39.0 50.4 Umdsr 70------ 72.5 63.7 68.7 ::.; :;.: Under 71------ 84.5 76.0 81.0 Under 72------ 90.8 85.o 86.2 80:1 84:4 Under 73------ 96.2 92.0 94.7 87.5 92.4 Under 74------ 9s.4 96.6 97.8 93.9 95.7 ~der 75------ 99.5 98.4 99.2 96.S 98.8 Under 76------ 99.7 99.1 99.8 97.7 99.0 76 and over--- 100.0 100.0 LOO.0 100,0 100.0 

1971- l;;o- l;#- W:o- W;l- l:;o- l;;L- lSJJo- l;J74


Cumulativepercent distribution


0.0 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.9 0.7 0.4 1.6 1.8 2.5 3.4 

5.6 6.2 1;:: 

11.1 19.1 

$: 20.4 31.5 

31.8 44.3 

40:1 47.0 65.0 

55.8 61.4 74.3 

69.2 74.1 86.4 78.4 84.7 91.5 87.1 92.9 96.7 94.2 97.3 99.0 

97.0 99.0 99.6 98.4 99.7 99.9 100.0 100.0 100.0 

0.2 0.7 0.6 0,.; 0.5 1.1 1.3 0.6 3.2 2: 5.7 ;:; 12.3 ::; 23.1 2?:: 1;:$
 30.3 1::: 35.7 30.7
 43.1 30.1 54.2 44.3
 55.4 46.1 65.4 59.3
 72.9 60.7 82.0 74.1


81.3 74.5 8S.4 84.3
 89.8 83.8 95.4 92,6
 94.3 93.1 99.0 95.9
 98.4 96.7 99.6 99.2
 99.6 98.9 100.0 99.7


99.8 99.7 100.0 100.0


99.8 99.7 100.0 100.0
 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0


\


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7-

0 

Table 5. Weight in pounds of adults aged 18-74 years, by sex, race, and age: sample size, estimated population inthousands, mean,
 standard deviation, standard error of the mean, and selected percentiles, United States, 1971-74


Estimated Standard Percentile


Sax, race, and age s~~e popu~ation Mean Standard


deviation :~;e:: ~th
 th.aui%nds lotll 25th 50th 75th 90th 95th


myg 

White I I I Weight in pounds 

1S-74 years---- 4,343 54,109 173 30 0.75 129 138 153 I 171 I 190 I 211 1 224 

1S-24 years 625 9,849 165 1.s9 125 133 146 162 1s2 205 222 25-34 yearns 672 11,191 177 :: 1.40 134 142 155 173 194 217 232 35-44 years 570 9,8S7 17s 1.66 133 145 160 177 195 211 224 45-54 years 628 10,117 176 ;? 1.23 129 141 158 176 193 214 225 55-64 years 65 ysar.iand over---- 504 1,344 

8,125 

4,970 171 

164 29 

27 1.49 

0.99 125 

123 136 

131 153 

14s 171 164 187 

180 208 198 220 

210 

Negro


18-74 years 847 5,730 171 40 2.54 125 134 145 163 1s9 217 239 

18-24 years 132 1,287 166 4.04 123 131 142 159 176 202 227 25-34 years 119 1,377 175 :1 S.17 124 134 148 162 193 219 235 35-44 years----------

45-54 years---------- l~j 820 

1,087 182 

168 37 $;: 130 

135 137 

136 151 

145 180 162 ::; 236 

220 255 

230 55-64 years 672 172 ; 6:34 119 138 145 163 1S6 237 249 65 years and over---- 294 486 161 2.31 121 127 137 156 179 205 218 

WOM8N I I I I II = 

18-74 years 6,758 59,4S2 142 31 0.59 104 110 121 136 157 182 199 

18-24 yeazs 1,165 10,298 132 26 0.s2 100 106 115 128 142 162 177 25-34 years 35-44 yeazs 1,539 

1,;:; 

12,338 

10,250 138 

146 % 1.02 

1.29 104 109 7.09 

114 118 

124 131 

137 150 

159 179 

191 ;;; 

45-54 years 11,091 147 30 1.32 109 7s3 126 143 162 188 204 55-64 years 552 S3905 147 30 1.35 103 111 127 143 164 187 201 65 years and over---- 1,496 6,601 145 28 1.08 105 7s3 126 142 162 180 192 

Negro


18-74 years---- 1,557 7.268 156 41 1.53 Io& 111 129 148 176 207 228 

18-24 years 329 1,618 138 2.47 107 114 130 150 203 25-34 years 335 1,540 149 3.20 108 127 141 170 :9: 226 35-44 years 334 1,354 165 2.6S 121 136 15s 185 216 238 45-54 years 126 1,131 169 $:; 128 139 162 186 215 55-64 years 115 971 168 118 139 156 191 215 !$J 65 years and over---- 31s 654 155 3:28 109 133 153 177 202 I I I / I 1 , ! 1 1 

NOTE: Total weights of all clothing ranged from 0.20 to 0.62 lb., which is not deducted from weights shown in table.


Table 6. Cmm@ative percent distribution of height in inches of adult females, according to age: United States, HSS (1960-62) and
 HANbs (1971-74)


Age 

Height 

in inches 18-74 years 18-24 years 25-34 years 35-44 years 45-54 years 55-64 years 65 years and over 

l:;o- 1971- l:;o- 19#- l;;o- l;;l- l;;o- l;#- 1960- 1971- l:;o- 1;;1- 1960- 1971- 74 62 74 62 74 

Cumulative percent distribution 

Under 55------ Under 56------ Under 57------

0.2 0,1 o.& 

0.7 $2 - 0.1 

0.1 o.i 0.3 

0.1 0.2 0.0 o.i ::: 0.1 ::! 0.5 0.0 0.3 0.2 0.5 0.3 0.5 

0,6 0.0 1.0 

1.6 i:: ;.: 0.2 

0.6 

1.2
 Under 58------ 2,3 1.4 0.3 0.8 0.9 0.8 1.3 0.6 %: 3.3 4.0
 Under 59------ 3.0 2.2 1.5 ::: H 1!:;
 Under 

Gnder 61------ 18.5 i3.5 12.0 12.2 1::? 1?:: 20.s 22.9 20.7 38.4 27.2 Under 62------ Under 63------ Under 64-------

32.8 

SD.7 63.2 

24,6 

39.6 

54.8 

24.6 

40.1 

51.3 

1::: 

29.8 

45.0 

22.4 

42.0 

53.5 

1;:: 

33.1 

49.3 

27.2 

43.8 

57.6 

19.5 

32.9 

47.2 

34.0 

g;.; 

5:$ 

39.9 

55.0 

43,5 

62.2 

76.3 

36.7 

52.3 

67.9 

58.0 

72.1 

82.9 

43.3 

61.3 

75.5 Under 65------ 78.8 69.7 70.6 60.3 71.7 63.2 75.4 63.6 82:5 72.4 S7.O S2.1 92.6 86.2 Under 66------ 87.1 83.0 S1.2 76.7 83.1 77.9 83.9 79.4 89.4 84.4 92.4 92.4 97.5 94.0 Under 67------ 94.8 90.8 91.9 86.5 93.9 87.S 94.6 87.8 94.4 92.9 96.4 96.7 99.0 :;.$! 

60------ 1::; 6.S 3:; i:: ::? ::: 11.5 ::! 1:.; 11.8 27.5 1::;


Under 6S------ 97.2 95.4 95.3 93.3 97.2 93.9 97.0 93.3 97.2 96.8 98.1 98.6 99.2
 Under 69------ 99,3 98.1 98,8 96.6 99.0 97.7 99.1 97.3 99.8 98.7 99.4 99.4 99.8 99:8
 ~der 70------ 99.6 99.2 99.5 98.4 99.3 98.9 99.8 99.0 99.9 99.5 99.4 99.8 99.s 100.0
 ~der 71.--... 99.9 99,7 99.9 99.3 99.6 99.7 99.9 99,6 99.9 99.7 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
 71 and over--- 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
 II 1 GPO 909.5131

-------------------------

-------------------------------

* 

Table 7. Comparison of mean heights and weighta in HES (1960-62)and HANES (1971-74),by sex and age:


United States


Men Women


Age Excess Excess
 IJES
, HANES of WANES
 1960-62 1971-74 ;:ey;;: 19%!;2 l%!% over HES


Height in inches


18-74 years 68.3 I 69.0 ] +0.7 ! 63.1 I 63.6 I +0.5


I I I I


L 

18-24 years------------------------------- 68.7 69.7 +1.0 63.8 64,3 +0,5 

25-34 years-------------------------------

35-44 years------------------------------- :;.; 69.6 

69.1 

+0,5 63.7 

+0.6 63.5 

64.1 

64.1 

+0.4 

+0.6 

45-54 years------------------------------- 68:2 68.9 +0.7 62.9 63.6 +0.7 

55-64 years------------------------------- 67.4 68.3 +0.9 62.4 62.8 +0.4 

65 years and over------------------------- 66.9 67.3 +0.4 61.5 62.3 +0.8 

Weight in pounds 

18-74 years------------------------- 166 172 +6 +3 

===+=== 

18-24 years------------------------------- 158 165 -1-7 127 132 +5


25-34 years------------------------------- 169 176 +7 ::; 140 +6


35-44 years 170 178 +8 148 +6


45-54 years------------------------------- 170 175 +5 145 149 +4


55-64 years------------------------------- 164 171 +7 150 149 -1


65 years snd over------------------------- 158 164 +6 144 146 +2


: Height was measured without shoes. 2 lb. are deducted from HES data to allow for weight of


clo%%g; total weights of all clothing for WANES ranged from 0.20 to 0.62 lb., which is not deducted @
 from weights shown.


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