Upper arm muscle area by height: an indicator for growth and nutritional status of Egyptian children and adolescents

This study included 15223 [7710 girls and 7513 boys] children and adolescents from nurseries and private schools in Cairo and Giza governorates [Greater Cairo]. Excessively lean and fat individuals were excluded. For each subject, weight, height, mid-upper arm circumference and triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness were measured and upper arm muscle area by height [UAMAH] was calculated. Means and percentiles of upper arm muscle area were calculated for 3-cm increments in height for each sex separately. Pearson correlation showed highly significant positive correlations between UAMAH and both weight and height, where r for weight in girls and boys was 0.873 and 0.907, respectively, and r for height was 0.746 and 0.816, respectively