Relationship between Calcaneal Bone Mineral Density and Body Size

The relationship between calcaneal bone mineral density (BMD) and body size was examined in 495 persons (101 men, 394 women) aged 20 years or more. Calcaneal BMD was estimated by single-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Body height and weight were also recorded as indices of body size. Calcaneal BMD decreased with increased age from 40 years or more in both sexes, and the extent of the decrease in women was greater than that in men. Multiple linear regression analyses of calcaneal BMD on age, height and weight disclosed that calcaneal BMD was related significantly to weight only in men, but with both height and weight in women.