Correlation of Triceps Skin fold with BMI in Age Matched Men: Anthropometric Analysis

Abstract

Objectives: To study the thickness of the triceps subcutaneous fat measured by the caliper anthropometry, in age matched individuals having different body mass indices; and to determine if there is any correlation between the thickness of  subcutaneous fat with that of the body mass index (BMI).

Study Design: Cohort prospective.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at Anatomy Dept, Nishtar Medical College, Multan from August 2010 to December 2010.

Materials and Methods: Observations were made on 260 healthy men of 20-50 years of age. Regression analysis and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were computed and are statistically significant (p < 0.05-0.01).

Results: The results reveal that the triceps skin fold fat was very strongly correlated (range = 0.88 to 0.96) in all age groups. While in case of BMI it good in Groups I & II. On the other hand Age and BMI show little correlation with that of triceps muscle area. The results are statistically significant p value being 0.05 to .01.

Conclusion: The study reflects some limitations of triceps anthropometry in estimating obesity but still has value in assessing nutritional status in special circumstances like refugee camps, schools, etc.