From the Research
The correlation coefficient between height and weight in a sample of male college students is closest to 0.6 to 0.7, indicating a moderately strong positive relationship. This correlation reflects the biological relationship between body size dimensions, where increased height generally corresponds with increased weight due to greater bone mass, muscle mass, and overall body frame. However, the correlation is not perfect because weight is influenced by many other factors beyond height, including body composition, diet, physical activity levels, and genetics. Individual variations in muscle mass, body fat percentage, and bone density can result in students of the same height having substantially different weights.
Some studies have examined the relationship between height and weight in various populations, including a study published in the American journal of physical anthropology 1 that found a significant, negative correlation between BMI and height in many subgroups of men and women. Another study published in TheScientificWorldJournal 2 found an inverse relationship between the height-weight difference index and body-fat percentage in Thai adults. However, these studies do not directly report the correlation coefficient between height and weight.
In the context of male college students, the correlation coefficient between height and weight is likely to be around 0.6 to 0.7, based on general trends in human biology. This correlation value is useful for understanding general population trends but should not be used to predict an individual's exact weight based solely on their height. Other factors such as body composition, diet, and physical activity levels play a significant role in determining an individual's weight.
Key points to consider:
- The correlation between height and weight is influenced by various factors, including body composition and genetics.
- Individual variations in muscle mass, body fat percentage, and bone density can result in students of the same height having substantially different weights.
- The correlation coefficient between height and weight is not a perfect predictor of an individual's weight.
- Other studies have found correlations between height and weight in different populations, but these may not be directly applicable to male college students.