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Changes in skinfold thickness and body composition among children and adolescents in S handong, C hina from 1995 to 2010
Author(s) -
Zhang Y.X.,
Wang S.R.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of human nutrition and dietetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.951
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1365-277X
pISSN - 0952-3871
DOI - 10.1111/jhn.12006
Subject(s) - medicine , skinfold thickness , obesity , fat mass , demography , fat free mass , body weight , zoology , sociology , biology
Background There is strong evidence of a upward secular trend in skinfold thickness ( SFT ) and the prevalence of obesity has increased substantially over recent decades in developed countries. However, no studies on this trend have been reported in S handong P rovince, C hina. The present study aimed to assess the decennial change in SFT and body composition among children and adolescents in S handong P rovince during the past 15 years (1995–2010). Methods Data were obtained from two national surveys on student's constitution and health carried out by the government in 1995 and 2010 in S handong P rovince, C hina. A total of 14 780 (7198 in 1995 and 7582 in 2010) students aged 7–18 years participated in the present study. Weight and SFT of all subjects were measured. Percentage body fat (% FM ) was estimated by SFT , and fat mass ( FM ) and fat‐free mass ( FFM ) were calculated from: FM (kg) = % FM × weight (kg)/100; FFM (kg) = weight (kg)− FM (kg). The range of differences of weight, SFT , FM and FFM over the different age groups between the 1995 and 2010 samples were calculated. Results In the past 15 years, mean values of SFT have increased. The mean (range) increments of SFT were 6.28 (2.91–11.22) mm for boys and 3.29 (2.22–4.29) mm for girls, demonstrating a mean increase of 32% for boys and 14% for girls. The mean (range) increments of weight, FM and FFM were 7.26 (4.41–10.82) kg, 3.70 (1.47–6.58) kg and 3.56 (1.24–5.27) kg, at rates of 18%, 47% and 10% for boys, respectively, and 4.14 (2.78–5.64) kg, 1.68 (1.02–2.27) kg and 2.46 (1.52–3.49) kg, at rates of 11%, 20% and 8% for girls, respectively. Conclusions The mean values of SFT , FM and FFM have increased over time. Rates of increase were greater for FM than FFM .