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Growth Assessment
Published in Praveen S. Goday, Cassandra L. S. Walia, Pediatric Nutrition for Dietitians, 2022
Julia Driggers, Kanak Verma, Vi Goh
Skinfold thickness measures subcutaneous body fat and is an indicator of total body fat composition. Triceps skinfold (TSFT) measures subcutaneous fat on the limbs and subscapular skinfold (SSFT) measures subcutaneous fat on the body trunk (Tables 1.11 and 1.12). Skinfold thickness varies based on age and gender with assessment of measurement based on median and standard deviations of the population. TSFT measurement is the most common and correlates with estimates of total body fat in women and children whereas SSFT is shown to be the best predictor of total body fat in men. TSFT and SSFT are not indicated as short-term measurements of fat stores. Skinfold thickness may not reflect total body fat stores and may not correlate with visceral fat deposits surrounding internal organs.
Methods of nutritional assessment and surveillance
Published in Geoffrey P. Webb, Nutrition, 2019
For many years, the traditional method for more direct estimation of fatness in people was measurement of skinfold thickness using skinfold calipers. Spring-loaded calipers are used which exert a constant pressure on a fold of skin and the thickness of the skinfold is indicated on a meter. The thickness of the skinfold will be largely dependent upon the amount of fat stored subcutaneously in the region of the skinfold. Skinfold thickness is measured at several sites and the assumption is made that the amount of fat stored subcutaneously at these sites (as measured by the skinfold thickness) will be representative of the total amount of body fat. In one method, skinfold thickness in millimetres is determined at four sites: over the triceps muscle; over the biceps; in the subscapular region and in the supra iliac region. The total of these four skinfolds is then translated into an estimate of percentage body fat using a calibration table or formula. Table 3.5 shows a table that can be used to estimate percentage fatness from these four skinfolds. The single triceps skinfold thickness is sometimes used in nutritional surveys. It has the obvious advantage, in such circumstances, that it can be measured quickly and without the need for subjects to undress.
The abdomen
Published in Peter Kopelman, Dame Jane Dacre, Handbook of Clinical Skills, 2019
Peter Kopelman, Dame Jane Dacre
Skinfold thickness The measurement of skinfold thickness using skinfold calipers (usually Harpenden calipers) is an additional practical method for estimating body fatness at the bedside. The established system is to measure the skinfold thickness at four sites: Triceps thickness is measured halfway between the acromial and olecranon processes. A fold of skin and subcutaneous tissue is pinched between your thumb and forefinger. This grip is maintained with your left hand, while the calipers are applied to the skin tuck using your right hand.Biceps skinfold thickness is measured in the same place as the triceps, but at the front of the arm with the hand supinated.Subscapular thickness is measured at a 45° angle to the vertical at the lower edge of the left scapula.Suprailiac thickness is measured in the horizontal plane, just above the iliac crest in the mid-axillary line on the left side.
The use of infrared thermography in the measurement and characterization of brown adipose tissue activation
Published in Temperature, 2018
James Law, Jane Chalmers, David E. Morris, Lindsay Robinson, Helen Budge, Michael E. Symonds
Heat that is radiated to the external environment must first be conducted through the subcutaneous adipose and the dermal tissues. Many factors, other than BAT activity, may therefore alter the heat signal measured using IRT. Adipose tissue is highly insulating92 and increased adiposity reduces skin temperature.93 Body mass index (BMI) is inversely associated with SCV temperature in children71 and to what extent this an effect of attenuation of the heat signal or reduced BAT activity is yet to be fully elicited. The percentage of body fat in any given anatomical area is inversely correlated with skin temperature in that area and subscapular skinfold thickness specifically is negatively associated with lower local skin temperature.94 The insulative and dissipating effect of adiposity can be corrected for either by calculating general indices of body composition, such as BMI,50 or by specifically measuring skinfold thickness94 close to the ROI, for instance subscapular. At the population level skinfold thickness and BMI are strongly correlated95–98 but the variation between individuals96–98 may mean a direct measure is necessary.
Behavioral thermoregulation in older adults with cardiovascular co-morbidities
Published in Temperature, 2018
Zachary J. Schlader, Gregory L. Coleman, James R. Sackett, Suman Sarker, Christopher L. Chapman, David Hostler, Blair D. Johnson
Height and weight were measured with a stadiometer and scale (Sartorius Corp. Bohemia, NY, USA), and body surface area was calculated accordingly.30 Skinfold thickness was measured in triplicate at the chest, axilla, triceps, subscapula, abdomen, suprailliac, and thigh (Harpenden, Baty International, UK), and percent body fat was estimated from body density,31 which was calculated from the sum of skinfolds for males32 and females.33 Urine specific gravity was measured in duplicate using a refractometer (Atago USA, Inc., Bellevue, WA, USA). Physical activity level was estimated using the validated International Physical Activity Questionnaire34 and cognitive ability was measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment.35
Waist-to-hip ratio but not body mass index predicts liver cirrhosis in women
Published in Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, 2018
Andreas Schult, Kirsten Mehlig, Cecilia Björkelund, Sven Wallerstedt, Jerzy Kaczynski
All anthropometric measurements were undertaken during the morning by one observer only. Body weight was measured to the nearest 0.1 kg with a balance scale. The women wore only briefs when being weighed. Body height without shoes was measured to the nearest 0.5 cm. Skinfold thickness were measured with a Harpenden caliper (British Indicators, UK) to the nearest 0.1 mm on the right side of the subject over the subscapular area and over the triceps muscle. Waist and hip circumferences were measured with the subjects standing by steel tape measure to the nearest 1 mm at the level midway between the lower rib margin and the iliac crest, and at the widest point between hip and buttock, respectively [26].