Health

The Quantified Self: What Your Body Measurements Reveal About Your Life

Health Team Health Team

Wikipedia defines the Quantified Self approach as “a movement to incorporate technology into data acquisition on aspects of a person’s daily life”. The data acquired covers everything from food to environment to mental states and physical performance.

And one of the most fundamental ways to garner data about yourself is to measure your own body. Anthropometry—the scientific assessment of your body’s measurements—has been used for thousands of years as a component of health care. Just a few centuries ago, an entire school of medicine was founded in Italy with anthropometry at its core.

Today, your body’s measurements remain powerful indicators of your health, hormones and wellness. For example, a mother’s hip-to-waist ratio may influence her child’s IQ, and your hip-to-leg ratio might reveal levels of estrogen in your body. These are among thousands of anthropometric correlations that provide data from the outside in.

From measuring your waist to determining your Body Mass Index (BMI), your body’s measurements can be powerful reflections of your health and lifestyle. On a sub-cellular level, while DNA tests may show you whether or not you have certain genes that predispose you to disease, taking your body’s measurements reveals the precise way in which your genes are expressing themselves. Right here and right now.

These ratios not only reveal straightforward details like how much muscle and fat your body is carrying, but may also provide insight about your hormones and neurotransmitters. The study of your body’s hormones is called endocrinology, and understanding more about your hormones can help you manage your weight, sleep, productivity, and improve your overall wellbeing.

So when you’re seeking to make a measurable change in your body and your life, why not start in the most tangible, quantified arena—your own physical measurements. Learn more at ph360.me.

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