title: Age trends in anthropometric characteristics among 6-9 years old Bengalee Hindu school girls of Kolkata, India.
abstract: A cross-sectional study of 431 6-9 years old urban Bengalee Hindu schoolgirls of Kolkata, India, was undertaken to study age trends in anthropometric characteristics including regional and subcutaneous adiposity. The anthropometric variables measured included height, weight, sitting height (SH), waist (WC), hip (HPC), thigh (TC), mid-upper arm (MUAC) and medial calf (MC) circumferences as well as triceps (TSF), biceps (BSF), subscapular SUBSF), suprailliac (SUPSF) and medial calf (MCASF) skinfolds. The results revealed, that there was a significant increasing age trend for all the anthropometric variables including the two derived variables: body mass index (BMI) and subischial leg length (SLL). For all variables, the lowest and the highest means were observed at the age of 6 and 9 years, respectively. The maximum increase in weight, BMI, all linear measurements, WC and HPC were observed during the period 6-7 years of age. In general, all skinfolds recorded similar yearly increments. More importantly, this study clearly indicated that among Bengalee girls aged 6-9 years, the highest amount of linear growth (height, SH and SLL) was observed at 6 years of age. The overall adiposity (BMI) also recorded the maximum increment during this period. The unique data presented here can be used as reference values for urban Bengalee Hindu girls aged 6-9 years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, India.
authors.forename: Kaushik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bose
authors.forename: Sharbani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
authors.forename: Kamalika
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.forename: Sampa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: Asish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mukhopadhyay
authors.forename: Mithu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bhadra
authors.forename: Mithu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bhara
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000502:physiology*; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001824:Body Constitution / Q000502:physiology; D050218:Body Fat Distribution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D012885:Skinfold Thickness