ABSTRACT
Background: The association between adiposity and diabetes has been widely assessed using body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-hip ratio (WHR), whereas these variables are inadequate to differentiate between muscle mass, fat mass, and bone mass. Aims and Objectives: The objective of the present study is to assess the somatotype pattern (subcutaneous fat mass distribution) and body fat percentage (%) in complete glycemic spectrum. Materials and Methods: Skinfold thickness, BMI, WC, hip circumference (HC), and WHR were measured in normoglycemic non-first-degree relatives of diabetes (Group 1), normoglycemic first-degree relatives of diabetes (Group 2), prediabetes (Group 3), and type 2 diabetes patients (Group 4). Results: The groups are comparable based on gender distribution, age, height, weight, physical activity, BMI, WC, HC, WHR, and somatotyping. Body fat percentage is significantly high in first-degree relatives of diabetes, prediabetes, and diabetes group as compared to control, in while all other groups are comparable among themselves. Conclusion: Body fat percentage can be considered as a better indicator of metabolic derangement than BMI, WC, HC, WHR, and somatotyping in the complete glycemic spectrum.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the somatotype growth status of youths in rural area of Anhui province. Methods: The Heath-Carter anthropometric method was used to study the somatotype of Han nationality youths aged 7-18 years of 1 678 cases in rural area in Fanchang county of Anhui province. Results: The endomorphic factors in females were more abundant than males, while mesomorphic and ectomorphic factors were less than males. The somatotypes of males and females were changing with growth. Findings indicated that in males mean somatotypes changed slightly with growth, shifting from mesomorph to ectomorph. For females, mean somatotypes varied greatly. Most of individual somatotypes shifted from central throu gh mesomorphic ectomorph to endomorph. C omparisons of males and females somatotype means showed significant dimorphism in 9-18 years groups. As compared to Mongolian and other foreign groups,it was concluded that there were differences among different ethnic groups. Conclusion: Heath-Carter somatotype method has the perspective applications in human nutriology and physical anthropology. Puberty is the crucial period for formation of somatotypes.