Comparison between Triceps and Subscapular Skinfold Thickness of Japanese Children with respect to Environmental Effects

Abstract

This study was made to predict the extent of environmental effects on triceps and subscapular fat. Subjects comprise 2350 boys and 2219 girls between the ages of 6 and 11 years, who were attending one of eight elementary schools in northern Kyushu of Japan. Somatometry was carried out on these children at medical examinations, and the triceps and subscapular skinfold thicknesses were taken on each child. Frequency distributions of the subscapular skinfold have larger skewness and kurtosis than those of the triceps skinfold for both sexes and all age groups. Partial correlation coefficients of body weight with the skinfold thickness controlling height and either the triceps or subscapular skinfold revealed that the subscapular skinfold had a close relationship with body weight change. Judging from these results, the subscapular skinfold seems to be more sensitive to the environment than the triceps skinfold. Furthermore, the large variations of triceps skinfold among some different groups suggest that this site may be relatively restricted by hereditary factors.