Description: This volume provides a thought-provoking, interdisciplinary perspective on the empirical and analytic study of body composition and the techniques used for measuring body components, such as fat, water, muscle, and bone mass and density. The nature of regional differences, developmental changes, pathological abnormalities, and the impact of heredity and environment in shaping body composition are discussed in the context of human evolution. For instance, the author looks at how growth, aging, and exposure to heat, cold, excess or lack of nourishment modify normal body composition.
Review Quotes: "The book differs from some other works in biological anthropology by taking an explicitly evolutionary perspective, and includes interesting perspectives from the history of biological anthropology, all written in a very readable style." Choice