“…The study of linearizing weight and height ratio to represent body mass or body fat, regardless of height, has increased in recent years (Burton, ; Heymsfield, Gallagher, Mayer, Beetsch, & Pietrobelli, ; Heymsfield, Heo, Thomas, & Pietrobelli, ; Lebiedowska, Alter, & Stanhope, ; Mei et al, ; Metcalf et al, ; Nevill, Stewart, Olds, & Holder, ; Wells, Treleaven, & Cole, ). Linearizing this ratio is important for the following reasons: (1) to obtain an index of body mass regardless of height; (2) to obtain an estimate of body fat regardless of the individual's size; (3) to indirectly increase the association between body mass and body fat; and (4) to increase the reliability and accuracy of nutritional diagnosis based on body mass.…”