Fat, water and tissue solids of the whole body less its bone mineral
T. H. ALLEN, B. E. WELCH, T. T. TRUJILLO, J. E. ROBERTS · 1959
This 1959 study found that, on average, there are 0.784 kg of water per kg of body weight less bone mineral and fat.
Plain English Summary
This 1959 study analyzed the composition of human bodies, measuring the ratios of fat, water, and tissue solids excluding bone mineral in 30 healthy people. Researchers found about 0.784 kg of water per kg of body weight less bone mineral and fat, and used an equation verified with freshly isolated tissues to estimate body composition. The study established baseline measurements for understanding how human tissue density varies based on hydration and fat content.
Why This Matters
While this study predates EMF research by decades, it provides crucial baseline data that modern EMF researchers rely on when studying how electromagnetic fields interact with human tissue. The science demonstrates that our bodies are primarily water-based systems, which matters enormously for EMF exposure because water molecules respond directly to electromagnetic energy. When your phone emits radiation at 900 MHz or 1800 MHz, that energy interacts with the water in your tissue, which this study measured at about 0.784 kg per kg of body weight less bone mineral and fat. This 1959 research helped establish the dielectric properties that determine how deeply EMF penetrates into different body tissues. Understanding tissue composition remains fundamental to calculating specific absorption rates (SAR) and modeling how wireless radiation distributes energy throughout the body.
Figures from the Original Paper
Diagram extracted from the original research document.
Show BibTeX
@article{fat_water_and_tissue_solids_of_the_whole_body_less_its_bone_mineral_g5933,
author = {T. H. ALLEN and B. E. WELCH and T. T. TRUJILLO and J. E. ROBERTS},
title = {Fat, water and tissue solids of the whole body less its bone mineral},
year = {1959},
}