Development of subcutaneous fat in Spanish and Latin American children and adolescents: Reference values for biceps, triceps, subscapular and suprailiac skinfolds

HERRÁEZ, Á.; CARMENATE, M.; MARRODÁN, M.D.; MARTÍNEZ, A.; GONZÁLEZ-MONTERO DE ESPINOSA, M.; ALFARO, E.L.; MELÉNDEZ, J.M.; BEJARANO, I.F.; LOMAGLIO, D.B.; VÁZQUEZ, V.; LÓPEZ-EJEDA, N.; MESA, M.S.; PÉREZ, B. MÉNDEZ; MORENO-ROMERO, S.; PACHECO, J.L.; DIPIERRI, J.E.

HOMO- Journal of Comparative Human Biology

Elsevier GmbH

Año: 2016

0018-442X

Subcutaneous fat skinfolds represent a reliable assessment instrument of adiposity status. This study provides current percentile references for four subcutaneous skinfolds (biceps, triceps, subscapular, suprailiac) applicable to children and adolescents in Spain and in Latin American countries where data are scarce.The design consisted of a cross-sectional multicenter study performed with identical methods in 5 countries (Argentina, Cuba, Mexico, Spain and Venezuela). Total sample comprised 9163 children and youths (boys 4615 - girls 4548) aged 6-18 years, healthy and without apparent pathologies. Percentiles 3, 5, 10, 25, 50, 75, 90, 95 and 97 were calculated by the LMS method. Sexual dimorphism was assessed using the t-test and age differences with ANOVA. Normalized growth percentile references were obtained according to sex and age for each skinfold. The mean values of four skinfolds were significantly greater in girls than boys (p