A Detailed Study of Child and Youth Body Size, Shape, Strength, Composition, and Physical Activity
Data on body size and shape is critical for the design of products and systems to ensure safe and effective use. Detailed anthropometric data for civilians is rarely available, and the last large-scale study of U.S. children and youth data was conducted in the 1970s.
YouthShape.US combines modern 3D anthropometry methods with careful participant sampling to produce the most complete data available for U.S. children. This website provides an overview of the study and links to outputs from the research to date. Check back frequently for updates, or contact the study team.
About the StudyWe are deeply grateful to the families who have participated in YouthShape.US. This study is being conducted with utmost attention to participant privacy. All protocols have been reviewed and approved by an Institutional Review Board at the University of Michigan. Identifiable information about the participants will never be shared outside of the project team.
Learn about our data collection methodology, including 3D scanning techniques, measurement protocols, and sampling strategies.
Explore Methods
A wide range of information is already available from the study, with more to come as data collection and analysis continue.
Outcomes
Explore examples of how YouthShape data can be applied to solve real-world problems in product design and safety.
View ApplicationsLearn more about the study, methods, outcomes, and applications
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