Overweight and the Human Skeleton

Abstract

This paper reviews the scope for identifying overweight individuals in archaeological skeletal material, which has received relatively little attention in the osteoarchaeological literature to date. Obesity-related joint disease is briefly discussed, but the chief focus of this paper is the testing of techniques proposed by McHenry, Ruff and Porter for extrapolation body weight and body mass index, both in terms of their general usefulness and their scope for identifying over- and underweight individuals in archaeological skeletal material. Particular concerns are raised regarding the use of techniques developed on the basis of living individuals and the use of radiographic imaging.