We see it all the time on shows like Bones and CSI. Skeletal remains can ___1___ all sorts of clues—gender, age, past physical traumas. But not the person’s weight. Now, scientists say that skeletons may be able to reveal whether the person had some ___2___.

The scientists evaluated the femurs (or thigh bones) of 121 deceased men for whom they had both weight and height. The group was ___3___ into two weight categories based on BMI, body mass index. The researchers found that the femurs of the individuals in the heavier group had significantly wider shafts. The study was published in the Journal of Forensic Sciences. [Gina Agostini and Ann Ross, "The Effect of Weight on the Femur: A Cross-Sectional Analysis"]

The scientists say that previous studies showed that obese individuals actually walk differently than those of ___4___. So their bones are dealing with an increase in weight load and a difference in the biomechanics of movement. This brings on a physiological change to ___5___. Skeletons will never be able to give us an exact read on someone’s girth, but they may be able to give investigators more evidence…to weigh.
【视听版科学小组荣誉出品】
yield extra padding split average weight withstand the stress
我们在《识骨寻踪》《犯罪现场调查》等剧中见多了，骸骨能够为我们提供各种的线索——死者的性别，年龄以及生前受过什么伤。不过没见剧中提到骸骨能告诉我们死者生前的体重。不过，目前科学家们表示通过骸骨人们也许能够得知此人生前是否体重超标。 科学家们对121名已知身高体重的男性死者的股骨（大腿骨）进行研究估算，并根据死者生前体重指数，将他们分成轻重两组。研究发现，生前体重较重那一组的股骨弯曲弧度较大。这项研究发现刊登在《法医学杂志》上。 科学家称有研究表明肥胖患者走路姿势与正常人不同，因此他们的骨骼也负担着相当重的分量，生物力学作用也与常人大不相同，因而导致了生理学结构的改变以承受这种压力。骸骨无法告诉我们死者的确切腰围，但却能为研究人员提供相当多的线索（了解死者的体重）。