A Study Of The Cormic Index In A Southeastern Nigerian Population

Since Body shape is generally influenced by a complex array of factors ranging from genes to environment; sequential growth patterns have been expressed by particular peoples. This study therefore aims at estimating and understanding the racial features of the south eastern Nigerians with respect to body shape and to evaluate how Height (HT), Sitting Height (SH), Subischial Leg Length (SLL), interrelate with Cormic Index (CI). The cross-sectional study includes 1200 southeastern Nigerian adults: 600 males and 600 females aged 18-48 years. The mean CI was found to be: 48.6% in males and 47.9% in females. Cormic index displayed significant positive correlation with SLL (r=0.631), SH(r=0.608) in males and SLL (r=0.178), SH (r=0.812) in females; and a weak correlation with HT (r=0.42) and (0.367) in males and females respectively. However, Agewise correlation was non existent as growth had ceased in adults; who now express racial and genetic differences in body shape. In adult males and females, a direct positive correlation exists between CI and sitting height, while SLL shows an inverse correlation.