The ancient Hindus and Egyptians were the first to pay attention to the proportions of the human body. It was they who began their active study, and the hand was used as the main unit of length. Later, Greek and Italian artists tried to find out how the body proportions of women, men and children of different ages differ.
Their observations and calculations were substantially replenished at the end of the twentieth century thanks to measurements made on the most typical representatives. This kind of research helped to deduce the general laws of proportionality of the body and its changes associated with age, size of growth, one or another type of activity.
Today, those observations and measurements that are aimed at deriving average figures (norms) necessary for constructing diagrams of the shape and magnitude of individual deviations have acquired particular importance. In addition, data are currently being actively collected on exactly what indicators differ in the proportions of the body of representatives of non-European races from the proportions of the European, white race. Especially for this, a certain scheme for measuring both the whole body and individual limbs, face and head was developed. To obtain anthropometric indicators, as a rule, a ruler with divisions or a double meter is used.
With these tools, you can easily measure the height, as well as the height of the chin, shoulder and other parts. In order to determine the proportions of the human body as accurately as possible, especially with regard to the length of the limbs, the width of the pelvis and shoulders, it is imperative to use a special compass - Topinara. The circumference of the head and chest is measured using a regular metric tape, and the dimensions of individual parts of the face are measured using thick-legged and sliding compasses.
As for the ideal proportions of the body, here experts are unanimous in their opinion - the most important thing is that the proportions of a person should be in harmony with his height, constitution and age.
You can calculate your own parameters in several common ways. Firstly, using a formula based on the addition of the circumference of the shoulder, circumference of the lower leg and neck, and then dividing the result by the circumference of the thigh. A figure ranging from 0.50% to 0.65% is considered an indicator of ideal body proportions. Secondly, you can use the well-known Brock formula -“height in centimeters - 100” (if height is up to 165 centimeters) and “height in centimeters - 105” (if height is more than 165 centimeters). However, in this case it is very important to take into account the types of body proportions, which can be thin-boned, normal-boned and wide-boned. The parameters of a person must correspond to the first type, with a wrist less than 16 centimeters (when girth), the second type - from 16 to 20 centimeters, and the third - more than 20 centimeters.
It should be especially emphasized that this kind of calculation, as a rule, is not aimed at determining whether a person needs to lose weight, his body is beautifully arranged or not. It is important to understand that the proportions are laid down genetically, the size of certain limbs, the shape of the head, the width of the face and much more - all these are signs that are determined by heredity. Trying to radically change them is not worth it, you can only adjust a little.
