[Skinfold thickness measurement in children. The technic and normal values].

In a group of 3,644 healthy controls aged 0 to 19 years and 273 obese children the reference values for triceps and subscapular skin fold thckness were established. The technique of measurement of skinfold thickness is described. This is simple and may be used in routine practice as a measurement of the adipose cell mass. However, measurement of only the subscapular skin fold thickness of which the values are less scattered than triceps, was sufficient to measure the development of adipose tissue in children up to and including puberty. Those subjects whose skinfold thickness is above the upper limit of normal are considered to be obese.