Gender differences in fat patterning in children living in Ankara

Body composition is an excellent indicator for assessing obesity and nutritional status of both individuals and populations. Youth obesity has important health and social implications, because a large proportion of adult obesity has its origin in childhood. Numerous studies report that adverse levels of cardiovascular diseases risk factors are associated with adiposity in children. Concerning the Turkish population there is up to now only limited information with regard to adiposity in children. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the anthropometric and body composition characteristics and to investigate sex differences in fat patterning including fat distribution in a group of children living in Ankara. The present study evaluated the body composition of 332 boys and 269 girls aged between 8 and 11 years, attending public schools. It was carried out by a cross-sectional study and was focused on that anthropometric variables, which reflect body fat and fat-free mass. Anthropometric measurements including height, weight, triceps and subscapular skinfolds thickness were carried out on these children. The body mass index (BMI) was also calculated. The measurements were used to estimate the two-compartment model of body composition: fat-free mass (FFM) and body fat (BF) from skinfold equations. The mean fat percentage in boys is highest at 11 years (16.8%) and lowest at 10 years (15.6%). In girls these figures come to 18.2% and 17.1%, respectively. Girls of these age groups have a significantly larger percentage of body fat and skinfold thickness. At this young age there is therefore clear evidence of sexual dimorphism in fat patterning, as girls are showing a greater subcutaneous adiposity, which is mainly contributed by the triceps fat. The body fat (kg) increases in both sexes all over the investigated age groups. The Pearson correlation matrix showed a high significant relation between the anthropometric measurements (p < 0.01). The present study confirms the findings that sexual dimorphism of fat patterning in children is to be seen in the age of 8 - 11 years. It furthermore presents basic data of body composition, which could serve as reference data in other studies on the Turkish population.     

Instrumental social support and women's body composition in El Alto,Bolivia

Instrumental social support, or aid in the form of labor or money, may exert a positive influence on economic welfare and food security. Several investigators have found a positive relationship between social support and nutritional status, while others have found a negative association between social support and central adiposity. In the rural Andes, extra‐household economic cooperation has long been an important adaptive strategy, and the breakdown of these relationships is one reason for high rates of rural‐to‐urban migration, including to the Bolivian city of El Alto. This research investigates the influence of instrumental support on women's body composition. Information was collected on individual perception of instrumental support and anthropometric indicators of nutritional status including percent body fat (bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)), BMI, and distribution of fat on trunk relative to limbs (Ratio of subscapular to triceps skinfold (STR)), and multiple linear regression analysis used to test the prediction that instrumental social support is positively related to body fat stores. Controlling for age and household socioeconomic status, perceived access to one or more sources of instrumental support was positively and significantly related to overall levels of adiposity. There is no evidence that STR mediates the relationship between instrumental social support and body composition. This analysis offers support for the prediction that economic social support has direct effects on women's energy stores. The interpretation of these results is somewhat ambiguous given the high levels of overweight and obesity in this population. Am J Phys Anthropol 152:51–57, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Change with age in regression construction of fat percentage for BMI in school-age children

In this study, curvilinear regression was applied to the relationship between BMI and body fat percentage, and an analysis was done to see whether there are characteristic changes in that curvilinear regression from elementary to middle school. Then, by simultaneously investigating the changes with age in BMI and body fat percentage, the essential differences in BMI and body fat percentage were demonstrated. The subjects were 789 boys and girls (469 boys, 320 girls) aged 7.5 to 14.5 years from all parts of Japan who participated in regular sports activities. Body weight, total body water (TBW), soft lean mass (SLM), body fat percentage, and fat mass were measured with a body composition analyzer (Tanita BC-521 Inner Scan), using segmental bioelectrical impedance analysis & multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis. Height was measured with a digital height measurer. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as body weight (km) divided by the square of height (m). The results for the validity of regression polynomials of body fat percentage against BMI showed that, for both boys and girls, first-order polynomials were valid in all school years. With regard to changes with age in BMI and body fat percentage, the results showed a temporary drop at 9 years in the aging distance curve in boys, followed by an increasing trend. Peaks were seen in the velocity curve at 9.7 and 11.9 years, but the MPV was presumed to be at 11.9 years. Among girls, a decreasing trend was seen in the aging distance curve, which was opposite to the changes in the aging distance curve for body fat percentage.     

Zinc nutritional status and its relationships with hyperinsulinemia in obese children and adolescents

A perturbation of zinc metabolism has been noted in subjects with obesity. The present work intends to investigate whether the zinc nutritional status is associated with hyperinsulinemia in obesity. A study was carried out in a group of obese children and adolescents (n=23) and compared to a control group (n=21), both between 7 and 14 yr of age. Software analyzed diet information from 3-d food records. Body composition was evaluated by body mass index (BMI), bioelectrical impedance, and skinfold measurements. Zinc nutritional status was evaluated by Zn determination in plasma, erythrocyte, and 24-h urine, by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (λ=213.9 nm). Insulin was measured by radioimmunoassay (Linco Res). Diets consumed by both groups had marginal concentrations of zinc. Zinc concentrations in plasma and erythrocytes were significantly lower in the obese group. Urinary zinc excretion and serum insulin were significantly higher in the same group, although the insulinemia and the parameters of zinc nutritional status were not significantly correlated. As a result, considering that zinc is part of the synthesis and secretion of this hormone, an assessment is necessary of the possible participation of the oligoelement in the mechanisms of insulin resistance, commonly present in obese patients.     

Zinc nutritional status in obese children and adolescents

Studies in animals and humans have corroborated that zinc (Zn) metabolism is altered in obesity. The present work intends to evaluate the Zn nutritional status in obese children and adolescents by the determination of some biochemical parameters and analyses of the diets. The investigation was carried out in a group of obese children and adolescents (n=23) and compared to a control group (n=21), both between 7 and 14 yr of age. A software analyzed diet information from 3-d food records. Body composition was evaluated by body mass index, bioelectrical impedance, and skinfold measurements. Zinc nutritional status was evaluated by Zn determination in plasma, erythrocyte, and 24-h urine, by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (γ=213.9 nm). Diets consumed by both groups had marginal concentrations of zinc. Zinc concentrations in plasma and erythrocytes were significantly lower in the obese group. Urinary zinc excretion was significantly higher in the same group. The results allowed one to conclude that zinc nutritional status in obese individuals is altered.     

Methods for the assessment of human body composition: skinfold thickness and bioelectrical impedance measurements

Research to establish indirect methods of determining human body composition began during the 1940s. Renewed interest in the assessment of human body composition has stimulated the need for a balanced understanding of available methodologies of estimating fat-free mass and fat mass. Subsequently a variety of methods has been introduced. However, attempts to describe the theory and practice of individual methods have been limited. The review summarizes the background and to describe the precision or error of skinfold thickness measurement and to highlight the strengths and the limitations of bioelectrical impedance method.     

Nutritional status and dietary habits of urban and rural Polish adolescents

The aim of this work was to compare the basic food ingredient level and some nutritional status indices between the two groups of adolescents: the first one from the urban environment and the other one from the rural environment. A series of tests were conducted on a 400-teenager-group (200 girls and 200 boys), which was divided into two age groups: 10.5-year-olds and 13.5-year-olds. Nutritional status was estimated on the basis of the following anthropometric measurements: body height, body mass index, upper arm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness. Food intake was assessed by means of a 24-h dietary recall. The analysis of the results of the investigation showed: rare overweight and obesity occur in rural children aged 10.5 years and a higher risk of undernutrition among rural children, especially boys; more frequent overweight and obesity in rural girls and urban boys aged 13.5 years; a lower protein consumption, especially animal protein, and a lower percentage of the accomplishment of the norm for many mineral components and vitamins in rural girls and boys.     

Body composition and fat distribution pattern of urban elderly females, Delhi, India

The present study was conducted on females (n = 279) in the age range of 51-89 year, living in the urban dwellings of Delhi, India. Another group of 21-25 years old young adult females was taken as a control group. A total of 14 anthropometric measurements were taken: stature, sitting height, weight, skinfold thickness at nine different sites over the body and body girths such as upper arm, waist and hip circumference. Indices like body mass index, grand mean thickness, waist-hip ratio were computed to assess the body composition. Fat profile and responsiveness of different skinfold sites towards fat accumulation were studied to find out the regional fat distribution with advancing age. Redistribution of body fat was found to take place with increasing age. A relative preponderance of upper body fat was visible among elderly subjects. However, a clear reverse trend was observed in the young control group females. Significant differences were observed with regards to the body composition and fat profile between young adult females and test group females. Abdomen and the sub-scapular area were reported to be the most sensitive sites for fat deposition as the age advanced. The stature and sitting height showed significant decline with age. All the indices of adiposity i.e. grand mean thickness, waist-hip ratio and body mass index revealed significant changes in elderly females when compared with young adult control group females.     

某坦克部队外训期间的膳食营养调查

目的:了解坦克部队官兵在野外驻训期间的膳食营养状况,为指导合理膳食提供参考依据。方法:膳食调查采用称重法,能量消耗采用生活观察法,体格检查指标包括体重和皮褶厚度。结果:每日人均禽肉、鱼虾、蔬菜等摄入水平未达到"军人食物定量"标准,而植物油摄入量则超过军标要求;VB1、VC、铁、锌、硒、碘等摄入量未达到"军人营养素供给量"标准要求;三大产能营养素供能比例不合理,脂肪摄入偏高,碳水化合物偏低;多数官兵野外驻训7 d后体重和皮褶厚度降低。结论:该部队在野外驻训期间膳食结构不够合理,部分营养素摄入量未达到军标要求,应调整膳食结构,改善官兵的营养状况。     

Evaluation of Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis for Identifying Overweight Individuals at Increased Cardiometabolic Risk: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective

To investigate whether bioelectrical impedance analysis could be used to identify overweight individuals at increased cardiometabolic risk, defined as the presence of metabolic syndrome and/or diabetes.

Design and Methods

Cross-sectional study of a Scottish population including 1210 women and 788 men. The diagnostic performance of thresholds of percentage body fat measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis to identify people at increased cardiometabolic risk was assessed using receiver-operating characteristic curves. Odds ratios for increased cardiometabolic risk in body mass index categories associated with values above compared to below sex-specific percentage body fat thresholds with optimal diagnostic performance were calculated using multivariable logistic regression analyses. The validity of bioelectrical impedance analysis to measure percentage body fat in this population was tested by examining agreement between bioelectrical impedance analysis and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in a subgroup of individuals.

Results

Participants were aged 16-91 years and the optimal bioelectrical impedance analysis cut-points for percentage body fat for identifying people at increased cardiometabolic risk were 25.9% for men and 37.1% for women. Stratifying by these percentage body fat cut-points, the prevalence of increased cardiometabolic risk was 48% and 38% above the threshold and 24% and 19% below these thresholds for men and women, respectively. By comparison, stratifying by percentage body fat category had little impact on identifying increased cardiometabolic risk in normal weight and obese individuals. Fully adjusted odds ratios of being at increased cardiometabolic risk among overweight people with percentage body fat ≥25.9/37.1% compared with percentage body fat <25.9/37.1% as a reference were 1.93 (95% confidence interval: 1.20–3.10) for men and 1.79 (1.10–2.92) for women.

Conclusion

Percentage body fat measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis above a sex-specific threshold could be used in overweight people to identify individuals at increased cardiometabolic risk, who could benefit from risk factor management.     

Validity of Six Field and Laboratory Methods for Measurement of Body Composition in Boys

Objective: To determine the validity of the following six body composition methods against a reference method (three‐component model): air displacement plethysmography (BODPOD); estimation from body density using BODPOD; skinfold thickness using the Slaughter equations; bioelectrical impedance, both leg‐leg (TANITA) and hand—foot (Bodystat) approaches; and total body water. Research Methods and Procedures: Forty‐two healthy white 10‐ to 14‐year‐old boys (mean age, 12.9 ± 1.0 years) were enrolled in this study. Measures of body fat percentage and body fat mass derived from the three‐component model were used as the reference method. Validity of all of the other methods was assessed by comparison against the reference by calculation of biases and limits of agreement. Results: Mean body fatness measured using the reference method was 16.4 ± 11.6% and 8.7 ± 7.0 kg. Estimates of fatness from total body water had the narrowest limits of agreement relative to the reference (+0.9 ± 5.0% body fat; +0.5 ± 2.9 kg fat mass). For all other methods tested, we observed large biases and very wide limits of agreement. Discussion: This study suggests that the validity of newer field and laboratory methods for estimation of body composition is poor in adolescent boys. For applications where high accuracy of estimation at the individual level is essential, only reference methods would be acceptable.     

Body Composition of African American and White Children: A 2‐Year Follow‐Up of the BAROC Study

Objective: To evaluate the 2‐year changes in body composition of white and African American boys and girls. Research Methods and Procedures: A total of 114 boys and girls ages 12 to 14 years with equal sex and ethnic distribution between African American and white races participated in measurements of body composition using DXA, underwater weighing (densitometry), skinfold thickness, corporal diameters, circumferences, isotope dilution (H₂¹⁸O), and bioelectric impedance. Results: Sixty‐eight of the 114 children advanced from Tanner Stages 1 and 2 to Tanner Stages 3 to 5 over a 2‐year period. More than 50% of the children were in the top 15th percentile according to normative data for body mass index but not for triceps skinfold. All measures except for percentage of fat, density, and four of the six skinfolds increased significantly during the 2 years, with no differences between races, genders, or fat group. The boys who advanced in Tanner Stage reduced their percentage of fat and a number of skinfolds and increased their lean body mass, but the girls did not. The percentage of water was significantly higher in the fatter children and declined significantly over 2 years. Most children remained in the same quartile of body fat, lean body mass, and bone mineral content over 2 years. Discussion: The data are consistent with the hypothesis that over 2 years, growth is the major determinant of changing body composition, with body‐fat group and sexual maturation being additional variables.     

Seasonal variation and sex differences in the nutritional status in two local populations of wild Japanese macaques

Seasonal variations and sex differences in the nutritional status in two local populations of wild Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata fuscata) were examined. It was hypothesized that the ecological condition and/or reproductive strategies of each sex determine the nutritional condition and its seasonal fluctuation in each sex. Morphometric measures such as body mass, thoracic and femoris circumferences, skinfold thickness in four places (triceps, biceps femoris, subscapular, and abdomen), and wet mass of mesenteric and omental fat were used for comparisons between sexes, seasons, and populations. Animals of the Shimane population were larger than those of the Boso population in most morphometric measures, abdominal skinfold, and mesenteric and omental fat mass, suggesting environmental and/or genetic differences in the two populations. Females of both populations had larger skinfolds and mesenteric and omental fat mass than males, indicating that females had more fat than males. Females showed seasonality in most measures, having two peaks of body mass, thoracic and femoris circumferences, abdominal skinfold, and mesenteric and omental fat masses in early spring and late fall. In contrast, males exhibited no clear seasonal variations for most measurements, except for biceps femoris and subscapular skinfolds, which showed peaks in summer. Most morphometric measurements significantly correlated to each other, particularly in females, but most skinfolds had no correlation with other measurements. These findings suggest that sexual dimorphism in body composition and its fluctuation may be affected by the different reproductive strategies of males and females.     

Body fatness and its social and lifestyle determinants in young working males from Cracow, Poland

The aim of this study was to determine the degree to which general body fatness variation, presented by body mass index (BMI), the sum of the three skinfold thicknesses (TST) (triceps, subscapular, abdominal) and percentage of body fat (%FAT), can be explained by socioeconomic status (SES) and lifestyle. The cross-sectional, population-based survey was of 259 healthy working males aged 20-30 from the city of Cracow, Poland. Objective anthropometric measurements, bioelectrical impedance analysis, the results of motor fitness tests and social and lifestyle data from a questionnaire were analysed. The independent variables were: age, socioeconomic status (birthplace, place of residence until the age of 14, social class, educational level and the type of work done) and lifestyle elements (smoking habits, dietary habits, family obesity resemblance, sport activity in the past, leisure time physical activity and level of motor fitness). Three separate full models were created using stepwise straightforward regression with BMI, TST and %FAT as dependent variables. The highest autonomous influence on BMI and %FAT was ascribed to age and family obesity resemblance, whereas variation in TST was explained by level of motor fitness, age, city as a place of residence until the age of 14 and family obesity resemblance. Although the analysed variables explained only from 8% (BMI) to 13% (TST) of body fatness variation, indicating at the same time that most variations are explained by other variables, the impact of lifestyle family-shared factors on body fatness seems to be significant.     

生物电阻抗法测定广西京族的体成分

本文利用生物电阻抗法对广西京族的体成分进行了测定,初步分析了其体成分形成的原因。研究组于2020年12月在广西壮族自治区东兴市“京族三岛”测定了430例京族成人（男182例,女248例）的16项指标。结果表明,京族男、女性的体质量、总肌肉量、躯干肌肉量、推定骨量、总能量代谢与年龄呈显著负相关。体成分随年龄增长而发生的变化,主要是自然的生理变化和劳动强度下降所致。随着年龄增长,男性的体脂率升高,这主要是躯干脂肪增多造成的。京族男性的体质量、总肌肉量、推定骨量、总能量代谢、水分率、四肢和躯干肌肉量均大于女性,而体脂率、四肢和躯干脂肪率均小于女性。京族男性比女性拥有更大的体质量和更高比例的骨骼肌,这两方面因素再加上劳动强度的差异,可能导致男性肌肉量、骨量、脂肪率等体成分与女性存在差异。总体来看,京族成人身体偏胖,脂肪含量较高,身体含水量基本正常,体成分特征与同为南亚语系或同在沿海地区的其他中国族群并不相似,而相对更接近于中国蒙古族,并且表现在体质量、体脂率、水分率等方面接近。生活环境、社会经济、日常饮食和劳动强度等因素是导致京族成人体质量及体脂率较高的原因。     

Body composition and fat distribution among older Jat females: A rural–urban comparison

The aim of the present cross-sectional study is to describe and compare age related changes in body composition and fat patterning among rural and urban Jat females of Haryana State, India. A total of 600 females (rural = 300, urban = 300), ranging in age from 40 to 70 years were selected by the purposive sampling method. Body weight, height, two circumferences (waist and hip) and skinfold thickness at five different sites (biceps, triceps, calf, subscapular, and supra-iliac) were taken on each participant. To study total adiposity, indices such as body mass index (BMI), grand mean thickness (GMT), total body fat and percentage fat were analyzed statistically. The fat distribution pattern was studied using waist/hip ratio, subscapular/triceps ratio and responsiveness of five skinfold sites towards accumulation of fat at different sites with advancing age. Results indicate a decline in almost every dimension including level of fatness between the mid-fourth and mid-fifth decades of life in both rural and urban females. Urban Jat females were heavier (57.36 kg vs. 56.07 kg, p > 0.05) and significantly taller (1553.3 mm vs. 1534.5 mm, p < 0.001) than their rural counterparts. Urban females also exhibited higher mean values for both the circumferences, five skinfold thicknesses as well as for lean body mass, total fat and percentage fat than the rural females. This is also evident from their higher mean values for body mass index and grand mean thickness. Waist/hip ratio values in rural and urban females showed upper body fat predominance, with urban females having relatively more abdominal fat. Results of subscapular/triceps ratio showed that rural and urban females gained proportionally similar amounts of subcutaneous fat at trunk and extremity sites until 45 years of age. Subsequently trunk skinfolds increased relatively more in thickness. The magnitude of this increase was comparatively greater in rural females up to 55 years and among urban females from 55 to 70 years. The profiles of subcutaneous fat accumulation and sensitivity of each skinfold site also revealed more fat deposition in the trunk region compared to extremities in both rural and urban females. The present study demonstrated differential rates of fat redistribution among rural and urban females.     

Stability of Adiposity Phenotypes from Childhood and Adolescence into Young Adulthood with Contribution of Parental Measures

Objective: The stability of several indicators of body composition and adipose tissue distribution over 12 years was quantified. Research Methods and Procedures: The participants were 77 boys and 76 girls who were evaluated along with their parents at baseline as children and adolescents (8 to 18 years of age) and remeasured as young adults 12 years later. Indicators of body composition included the body mass index, fat mass, fat free mass, percentage of body fat, sum of six skinfolds (SF6), and the first principal component of six age‐adjusted skinfold residuals. Relative adipose tissue distribution was represented by the second principal component of skinfold residuals and a trunk‐to‐extremity skinfold ratio, adjusted for SF6. Results: Partial interage correlations, controlling for initial age and length of follow‐up, were 0.65 and 0.59 for the body mass index, 0.59 and 0.64 for fat mass, 0.65 and 0.57 for fat free mass, 0.50 and 0.57 for percentage of body fat, 0.66 and 0.44 for SF6, 0.64 and 0.42 for the first principal component of six age‐adjusted skinfold residuals, 0.19 and 0.31 for the second principal component of skinfold residuals, and 0.41 and 0.47 for trunk‐to‐extremity skinfold ratio, adjusted for SF6, in men and women, respectively. Multiple regression analyses indicated that the significant partial R² values of parental measurements on the prediction of their offspring in young adulthood ranged from 2% to 9%. Discussion: The results indicate moderately high stability of indicators of body composition and somewhat lower stability of measures of adipose tissue distribution. Overall, parental measures offer less predictive value than do measures of childhood and adolescent body composition and adipose tissue distribution.     

Comparison of ultrasound and skinfold measurements in assessment of subcutaneous and total fatness

Ultrasound (A-scan mode) and skinfold methods were evaluated in the measurement of subcutaneous fat thickness and prediction of total fat weight (by whole body potassium counting). Based on intraobserver correlations on 39 men at 15 body sites, skinfold caliper measurements were more reproducible than ones obtained by ultrasound. Measurements made with the two techniques at the same site typically produced different mean estimates of fat thickness. However, scores were often highly correlated with each other, indicating similar relative rankings of subjects by each technique. Skinfolds were more highly correlated with total fat weight than were ultrasound measurements, but body weight and anthropometric measures had even higher correlations with total fat weight. Anthropometric measurements were highly correlated with fatness because of their association with body weight, and when this relationship was statistically controlled for, they typically lost their predictive effectiveness. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the best predictors of fat weight were body weight along with skinfold and ultrasound measurements. These results suggest that skinfolds are a more effective means of assessing subcutaneous fat than ultrasound, especially when the large difference in cost of equipment is considered.     

Body fat in urban and rural male college students of Eastern India

Male college students (N = 381) residing in several districts of Eastern India, classified into two groups, urban (N = 193) and rural (N = 188), were studied by anthropometric measurements of skinfold thicknesses in several sites of the body to determine their body fat content. The mean value of percentage of body fat was found to be significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the urban group of students (12.07 ± 3.04) than in the rurals (11.04 ± 2.63). The mean values of skinfold thicknesses of the biceps, triceps, and subscapular regions were also found to be higher in urbans (P < 0.01), but no such significant differences in mean values of supra-iliac and abdominal skinfolds were found between the two groups of students. Most of the subjects of both the groups had a greater thickness of the abdominal skinfold compared to thickness of the biceps, triceps, and suprailiac skinfolds. It was found that the college students of Eastern India were leaner than the youths of North America, Europe, Japan, and Northern India.     

Making a nutritional assessment.

The assessment of nutritional deficiencies depends on both clinical and laboratory diagnosis. The standard physical examination should be supplemented by nutritional anthropometry, consisting of accurate growth and skinfold measurements. A careful dietary history, preferably taken by a dietitian, is necessary to construct a record of past nutrient intake. Since biochemical abnormalities often appear before clinical signs of nutritional deficiency a battery of biochemical tests is sometimes needed. In unusual cases newer techniques of assessing body composition or immunologic or physiologic function may be required. In all cases the patient''s physical state, nutritional intake and biochemical status must be related to age and sex standards.