Small frame, medium frame, large frame... Which are you?

In order to refine and define theoretical weights, researchers added frame size as a factor. The sizes are categorized into three categories:- Small frame, medium frame and large frame. The reason for this is that obviously bone structures vary in size and density from person to person. Equally obviously men and women have different structures. Bone mass and muscle mass all play a part in determining your optimal weight. Large boned people. There are two simple methods of determining frame size:- Measuring the circumference of your wrist. This is by far the most straight forward. Measuring the breadth of your elbow. This is a little more complex but provides a greater results range for the purposes of accuracy. In order to do this:- Stand up. Extend your arm forward so that it is horizontal and parallel to the ground. Turn your hand so your palm is uppermost. Bend your elbow so your forearm is at 90º to the ground. Use the forefinger and thumb of your other hand to locate the narrow part of your elbow joint. Use your same forefinger and thumb as a guage to determine your elbow breadth by measuring the gap between them with with a ruler or tape measure. Compare the value with the tables below.
Female Wrist Measurements   Height less than 5' 2" (Less than 155cms) Height 5' 2" - 5' 5" (155cms - 163cms) Height more than 5' 5" (More than 163cms) Small Less than 5.5" (140mm) Less than 6.0" (152mm) Less than 6.25" (159mm) Medium 5.5" - 5.75" (140 - 146mm) 6" - 6.25" (152 - 159mms) 6.25" - 6.5" (159 - 165mm) Large More than 5.75" (146mm) More than 6.25" (159mm) More than 6.5" (165mm) Female Elbow Measurements Medium Frame (If your elbow breadth is less than those in the table for a specific height, you are small framed. Similarly, if your elbow breadth is bigger than those in the table, you are large framed) Height Ft and In Elbow Breadth Inches Height cms Elbow Breadth mm 4' 10" - 4' 11" 21/4" - 21/2" 146 - 148 57 - 64 5' 0" - 5' 3" 21/4" - 21/2" 150 - 158 57 - 64 5' 4" - 5' 7" 23/8" - 25/8" 160 - 168 60 - 67 5' 8" - 5' 11" 23/8" - 25/8" 170 - 178 60 - 67 6' 0" - 6' 4" 21/2" - 23/4" 180 - 190 63 - 70
Male Wrist Measurements   Height more than 5' 5" (More than 163cms) Small 5.5" - 6.5" (140 - 165mm) Medium 6.5" - 7.5" (165 - 191mm) Large More than 7.5" (191mm) Male Elbow Measurements Medium Frame Height Ft and In Elbow Breadth Inches Height cms Elbow Breadth mm 5' 2" - 5' 3" 21/2" - 27/8" 155 - 158 64 - 73 5' 4" - 5' 7" 25/8" - 27/8" 160 - 168 67 - 73 5' 8" - 5' 11" 23/4" - 3" 170 - 178 70 - 75 6' 0" - 6' 3" 23/4" - 31/8" 180 - 188 70 - 79 6' 4" - 6' 7" 27/8" - 31/4" 190 - 198 73 - 83 ===== I found this article and thought it would be quite helpful. It gives you two different ways to deterimine your frame size. Hope you enjoy! Cy

HOLY CRAP!!!!  I'M A MEDIUM SIZED MAN!!!!!!!!  

Wow, I really am a large frame.....I just figured that was the excuse every overweight person used  LOL  Mine is just over 6 1/2 inches.  WOW  Thanks for the post!

I'm large framed. And dead sexy!

My wrist is 5.75 inches and I am 5'4" so I am small I guess.. I guess my theory of "i am just big boned" when I was obese wasn't working well eh? lol

Holy CRAP, Batman ... I am practically a large-framed MAN!  My wrist measures close to 7.5".  I am giggling here, 'cuz like all the others, I figured that was just an excuse all obese ppl used!  ;-) Cy, did it say how that should impact your "ideal" weight range?

I would presume that the frame would dictate what end of the 'normal bmi' range you should be on. However, if you're a large framed person you could probably carry five or ten extra pounds that the small framed person couldn't. Vice versa applies as well, a small framed person would probably look less starved at the lower end of the 'normal bmi' range than a larger framed person. I'm a medium framed person and in all honestly, I never used the 'big boned' excuse since it was obvious I was fat.  I did use to say I'm not overweight, I'm undertall. I'm supposed to be 6'4". Cy

Well...it's official...I'm large boned. My wrist measured 6 3/4 in. and my elbow measured 2 3/4 in. My bones are the size of a medium framed man :o(.  ~Suz

Large framed! But I already knew that. I have wooly mammoth bones!

Stand up. Extend your arm forward so that it is horizontal and parallel to the ground. Turn your hand so your palm is uppermost. Bend your elbow so your forearm is at 90º to the ground. Use the forefinger and thumb of your other hand to locate the narrow part of your elbow joint. Use your same forefinger and thumb as a guage to determine your elbow breadth by measuring the gap between them with with a ruler or tape measure. Compare the value with the tables below.  I guess as a person with a background in anatomy, I just wish they would tell you the names of the anatomical landmarks to use.  I don't think this description seems as accurate as using the wrist?  Seems pretty open to error....Granted, its hardly scientific, but...Hmmm...