Study of skinfold thickness for Assiut adolescents

ABSTRACT

The present study was producted to assess the nutritional status of Assiut school children as indicated by triceps, biceps and subscapular skinfold measurements. This is based on the assumption that increased subcutaneous fat, resulting from either high caloric intake or low energy expenditure, reflects a greater caloric reserve. About 361 of clinically free Assiut school children aged from 13 to 17 years of both sexes were subjected for measuring the triceps, biceps and subscapular skinfold thickness. The present results indicate that there is a sexual difference in skinfolds that females have a much greater skinfolds than males. Also by the age of 14-15 year interval there is an obvious growth spurt in skinfold for both sexes. The present results reveal also, that there racial difference in skinfolds when compared the present values with international ones. The sexual differences in skinfolds are most probably due to hormonal control as well as nutritional habits. The latter also is responsible for the racial differences in skinfold thickness