Secular changes in body fat patterning in children and adolescents of Zaragoza (Spain), 1980-1995.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether children and adolescents of Zaragoza (Spain) are becoming centrally obese to a greater extent than would be predicted by their relative body weights.


METHODS
Two cross-sectional surveys conducted in 1980 and 1995.


METHODS
The samples selected for the 1980 and 1995 surveys comprised 1553 and 701 male children, and 1311 and 659 female children, respectively, with ages ranging from 6.0 to 14.9 y.


METHODS
We measured four skinfold thicknesses (biceps, triceps, subscapular, suprailiac) and calculated some indices of fat patterning: triceps/subscapular skinfolds (T/SS), biceps+triceps/subscapular+suprailiac skinfolds (B+T/SS+SI), and (subscapular+suprailiac/biceps+triceps+subscapular+suprailiac skinfolds)x100 (trunk-to-total skinfolds %).


RESULTS
In males, B+T/SS+SI, and trunk-to-total skinfolds % showed a significant trend to a central pattern of fat distribution from 1980 to 1995, at the ages of 6.5-11.5 y. In females, B+T/SS+SI and trunk-to-total skinfolds % showed a significant trend to a central pattern of fat distribution from 1980 to 1995, at the ages of 6.5 and 7.5 y. Similar results were obtained when we adjusted for BMI values.


CONCLUSIONS
We have observed a trend to a central pattern of adipose tissue distribution, especially in males and at the youngest ages studied (6-11 y in males, and 6-7 y in females). These observations were independent of trends in BMI.
Moreno
L A
LA
EU Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain. lmoreno@posta.unizar.es
Fleta
J
J
Sarría
A
A
Rodríguez
G
G
Gil
C
C
Bueno
M
M
D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology