Anthropometric comparison between Japanese and Caucasian American male university students.

Visual observation suggests that distinct differences in physical characteristics exist between Asian and Western country people. However, only few studies have been conducted to directly identify the location and magnitude of any physical differences between Asians and Caucasians. Boileau and Lohman (1977), who made extensive studies on the measurement of anthropometry, stated that no single comprehensive integrated assessment tool exists for analysis of size, shape, proportion, and composition in the study of the human body. Consequently, they suggested that, for a better understanding, specific anthropometric differences should be assessed by measuring various structural components and reported in both absolute and relative measurement terms. This study was designed to compare young Japanese and Caucasian American male students on a variety of anthropometric characteristics in order to locate and quantify the magnitude of any physical differences between the two races.