NCHS Adult Body Mass and Height Statistics

Analysing the physical characteristics of adult populations provides critical insights into public health and nutritional status. These records originate from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics. By filtering the primary Body Measures Set (P_BMX), the collection focuses specifically on adult observations, removing data pertaining to children and adolescents aged 2 to 19. The resulting information offers a standardised baseline for examining physical metrics across a wide age range, facilitating research into body composition and the correlation between various anthropometric measurements.

The information is delivered in a CSV format titled NHANES Weight and Height.csv with a file size of 185.18 kB. It contains 8,388 valid records organised into four columns. The dataset maintains a high standard of integrity, with 100% validity for all 8,388 entries and no missing or mismatched values recorded.

This resource is ideal for training and testing linear regression models to explore the mathematical relationships between height and weight. It can be used by health analysts to evaluate the distribution of Body Mass Index within a national population or as a teaching tool for students learning data analytics and statistical modelling. Researchers may also apply these figures to broader public health studies focused on adult wellness and physical development trends.

The geographic scope covers the United States, as part of a large-scale national survey. The temporal range corresponds to the 2017–2018 survey cycle. Demographically, the records include data for both males and females ranging from 20 to 150 years of age, ensuring a broad view of the adult life cycle.

CC0: Public Domain

Data science beginners can leverage these figures to practice foundational analytical techniques like correlation and regression. Health researchers and epidemiologists can utilise the records to study adult body mass trends and health indicators. Additionally, academic instructors can use this high-validity dataset to demonstrate real-world applications of health statistics and survey-based data analysis.

Original Data Source: NCHS Adult Body Mass and Height Statistics