Normal values for weight, skeletal size and body mass indices in 890 men and women aged over 65 years.

Measurements of body weight and skeletal size have been made, as part of a demographically representative survey, in 532 women and 358 men aged over 65 years living in their own homes. Body weight was assessed using calibrated portable scales. Skeletal size was measured as half body span (demispan) using a steel tape stretched from the sternal notch to the finger roots. Age had a weak but significant negative association with both body weight and demispan. After controlling for demispan, age still accounted for a significant decline in weight (in kg per decade) of 2.5 in men and 3.5 in women. Weight, demispan and indices of weight-for-skeletal-size have been presented as percentiles for men and women separately.