Assessment of Foot Length as a Predictor of Stature and Weight in the Ikwerre Population of Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Stature refers to a person's height when standing upright. Estimating stature is crucial in the investigation of unidentified individuals during mass casualties and natural disasters. Foot anthropometry provides valuable predictive information regarding a person's height and weight. The study aimed to develop a regression model to estimate height and weight from foot length measurements of adult Nigerians from the Ikwerre ethnic group. For this study, 200 males and 200 female Ikwerre participants were randomly selected from ages 18-50 years, without foot deformities. Foot length (cm), weight (kg), and height were measured with a tape, scale, and a stadiometer, respectively. Data analysis using IBM SPSS 25 included descriptive (mean, standard deviation, error) and inferential tests (independent t-test, Pearson’s correlation, regression) at α = 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval, resulting in a regression model to estimate height and weight from foot length. The average height for males was 175.70 cm, while for females it was 164.05 cm. Males also had an average weight of 69.38 kg, compared to 64.44 kg for females. In terms of foot length, males measured an average of 28.09 cm, whereas females averaged 25.72 cm. There were statistically significant differences between males and females in all measured variables. Correlation analysis showed that height and foot length have a stronger positive relationship compared to the relationship between weight and foot length. Conclusively, the results indicate a noteworthy positive relationship between height and foot length, which is stronger than the relationship between weight and foot length. This suggests that foot length may serve as a more effective predictor of height compared to weight.