Developing an Anthropometric Database for Saudi Students and Comparing Saudi Dimensions relative to Turkish and Iranian Peoples

Abstract

The main objectives are to develop an anthropometric database for Saudi Students and to compare it relative to two other Middle Eastern people. A national anthropometric standard for Saudis does not exist and few studies have focused on the development of Saudis anthropometric data and the comparison of them with other races. The availability of these data is necessary to design new products and to reduce the discomfort/pain from using the man-machine systems. A random sample of 900 male students aged 19-30 years at King Khalid University in Saudi Arabia participated in the study. Twelve body dimensions were measured and described in terms of mean, standard deviations, 5/95th percentiles and the significance value for Kolmogorov-Smirnov test by using the Minitab software. The 2-sample t test was performed at 0.05 to compare the means of two Saudi anthropometric studies (including this one) relative to other published studies for two Turkish and two Iranian studies. Hutson (1999) procedure was used to estimate the confidence interval for 5/95th percentiles and to compare them among Saudi, Turks and Iranians. The 12 dimensions were found to be normally distributed with significance values ≥0.054. The Saudi body weight, bideltoid breadth, buttock-popliteal length and sitting popliteal height were found to be larger than those of the Turkish and Iranian students, while in every other dimension, the Saudis were smaller. There is a statistically significant difference between the mean and 5/95th percentile weight (71.61, 46.65, 93.69) kg among Saudi, Turks and Iranians. The 5/95th percentiles (31.39, 39.39) cm for sitting hip breadth, the 5th percentile (55.08 cm ) of buttock-knee length and the 95th percentile (46.98 cm) of sitting popliteal height are significantly equal for the Saudis and Turks. The sitting eye height 5th percentile of 72.12 cm and the sitting popliteal height 95th percentile of 46.98 cm are significantly equal Saudis and Iranians. This study updates the anthropometric data for Saudi people that is rare in literature. The mean for the 12 anthropometric dimensions are significantly different among Saudis, Turks and Iranians. Also, most of 5th and 95th percentiles for Saudis dimensions are different from Turks and Iranians. There is a very noticeable difference between the body types of Saudis and those of Turks and Iranians. Therefore, the anthropometric information of one country cannot necessarily be implemented in other regions. The study data provides a great value for designing university facilities. The comparison results can be used to give priority for importing tools/equipments to countries of dimensions near to Saudi students.