The need for revised standards for skinfold thickness in infancy

Skinfold standards provide a useful indication of subcutaneous fat. To evaluate skinfold thickness of 252 Cambridge infants over the first 2 years of age, SD scores relative to the Tanner standards were calculated, taking account of skewness in the standards. Cambridge SD scores were low, varying ac...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archives of disease in childhood 1998-04, Vol.78 (4), p.354-358
Main Authors: Paul, A A, Cole, T J, Ahmed, E A, Whitehead, R G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age Factors
Babies
Biological and medical sciences
Birth Weight
Body Weight
Breast Feeding
Child, Preschool
Children & youth
Female
Females
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Infants
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
Male
Males
Medical sciences
Midwifery
Miscellaneous. Technology
Original
Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques
Pregnancy
Reference Standards
SD scores
Sex Factors
Skewness
Skinfold Thickness
skinfolds
United Kingdom
Weaning
Young Children
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Summary:Skinfold standards provide a useful indication of subcutaneous fat. To evaluate skinfold thickness of 252 Cambridge infants over the first 2 years of age, SD scores relative to the Tanner standards were calculated, taking account of skewness in the standards. Cambridge SD scores were low, varying according to age from −1.2 to −1.8 for triceps and −0.6 to −1.2 for subscapular skinfolds. The Tanner skinfold standards were last revised 30 years ago, at a time of high prevalence of infantile obesity, and the present and other studies indicate that infants are now thinner. There is a need for new skinfold standards to reflect this change. Since the Cambridge infants contributed to the recent British height and weight references, it is suggested that their skinfold measurements could also serve as reference points.
ISSN:0003-9888
1468-2044
DOI:10.1136/adc.78.4.354