Abstract
Objective: To determine build distribution among school students to assist them in choosing suitable careers.
Study Design: This was an anthropometric study.
Place and Duration of Study: Initiated in 1998 in schools run by the Armed Forces of Pakistan (one each from Pakistan
Army, Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Air Force); a civilian school added in 2011. Data reported covers the period 1998-2019.
Material and Methods: Heights and masses of 1666 students (boys 503; girls 1163 — age range 3.20-14.63 years; mean
7.81 years; standard deviation 2.09 years) were measured, to least counts of 0.1 cm (1998-2011); 0.01 cm (2012-2015);
0.005 cm (2016 onward) and 0.5 kg (1998-2011); 0.01 kg (2012-2015); 0.005 kg (2016 onward), respectively, during the
morning hours, following standardized protocols (ethical guidelines followed, students barefooted and undressed to short
underpants (older girls in light indoor clothing), all clothing above the waist removed, equipments calibrated daily,
measurer reproducibility documented), and modeled to generate Growth-and-Obesity Vector-Roadmap 2.6. In order to deal
with extreme cases, CDC Growth Tables were extended using mathematical-statistical techniques to include percentiles
0.01P
, 0.1P
, 1P
, 99P
, 99.9P
, 99.99P
and adapted to be used for the Pakistani population by applying a scaling transformation
linking medians of collected data of heights and masses to 50P
of modified-scaled percentiles. Build was determined from
sum of modified-scaled percentiles of height and mass.
Results: 436 students had small, 814 had medium and 416 had big builds.
Conclusion: Youngsters are advised to take up careers based on their builds and estimated-adult heights — intelligence
(small build), administration (medium build) and active combat (big build).
