Moore and Schaefer reported a decision tree which can roughly estimate body weight from skeletal remains. The authors are from the University of Michigan in Dearborn.
Analysis:
(1) calculation of the moments of inertia for the femur at various points along its length: 80% (proximal), 65%, 50% (midshaft), 35% and 20% (distal)
(2) evidence of DISH (diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis) based on fusion of 3 or more vertebrae along the anterior right side of the vertebral bodies with preserved disk space
Parameters:
(1) second moment of inertia in the A-P direction in the distal (20%) slice from the femur in cm^4
(2) distance in cm from the subperiosteal surface of the bone to the centroid in the mediolateral direction at the level of the femoral midshaft (50%)
(3) A-P distance in cm from the external subperiosteal surface to the centroid at the proximal (80%) slice
(4) severity of DISH (diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis) as severe or not
Item 1
Item 2
Item 3
Item 4
Weight
< 3.98 cm^4
NA
NA
NA
58.8 kg
>= 3.98 cm^4
>= 1.495 cm
NA
NA
115.2 kg
>= 3.98 cm^4
< 1.495 cm
> 1.685 cm
NA
76.8 kg
>= 3.98 cm^4
< 1.495 cm
<=1.685 cm
DISH severe
115.5 kg
>= 3.98 cm^4
< 1.495 cm
<=1.685 cm
not severe DISH
84.5 kg
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