How to Calculate a Body Frame

Your health is affected by your body frame. Being overweight tends to put you at risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and diabetes. A big body frame can place strain on the heart since it has to work harder to pump blood through the body. You can determine your body frame size to see what category you fit in through either the elbow breadth method or wrist circumference method.

Things You'll Need

  • Measuring tape
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Instructions

  1. Determining your body frame size by elbow breadth

    • 1

      Bend your elbow at a 90-degree angle so your forearm is parallel with your body.

    • 2

      Turn the inside of your wrist towards your body while keeping your fingers straight.

    • 3

      Place your thumb and index finger of your other hand on the two pointed bones on either side of the elbow.

    • 4

      Measure the distance between the bones with the tape measure and then refer to the dimensions below. These are medium frame measurements; therefore, if your measurements are lower than the those listed, you have a smaller frame. If your measurements are higher than those listed below, you have a larger frame.

      Men:

      Height in 1" heels Elbow breadth

      5'2"-5'3" 2 1/2"-2 7/8

      5'4"-5'7" 2 5/8"-2 7/8"

      5'8"-5'11" 2 3/4"-3"

      6'0"-6'3" 2 3/4"-3 1/8"

      6'4" 2 7/8"-3 1/4"

      Women:

      Height in 1" heels Elbow breadth

      4'10"-4'11" 2 1/4"-2 1/2"

      5'0"-5'3" 2 1/4"-2 1/2"

      5'4"-5'7" 2 3/8"-2 5/8"

      5'8"-5'11" 2 3/8"-2 5/8"

      6'0" 2 1/2"-2 3/4"

    Determining your body frame size by wrist circumference

    • 5

      Locate the smallest part of your wrist.

    • 6

      Grab your wrist with the opposite hand.

    • 7

      Place your thumb and index finger around your wrist. If your finger overlaps the thumb, you have a small frame. If they touch, your frame is a medium frame. If they do not touch, you have a large frame.