The Rees-Eysenck Body Index of Individual Somatotypes

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Abstract
Anthropometry has benefited in the last 20 years from two distinct advances, the use of standardized photography by Sheldon (1940) and the application of factor analysis to physical measurements as initiated by Burt (1944). Tanner in a critical review (1947) compared these two main approaches to interpretation of body type. Later (1954) he defended photoscopic somatotyping against the charge of subjectivity in ratings by stating the degree of consistency obtained by experts, although such consistency is admittedly less common among less expert somatotypists. Factor analysis can claim some theoretical advantages, and certainly greater mathematical exactness than photoscopic typing: but here the question arises as to whether the measurements so far employed for factor analysis yield the best information; statistical treatment by itself, however sophisticated, is no substitute for the best or right choice of measurements.

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