Triceps skinfold thickness in adolescents.

The triceps skinfold thickness (TSF) was measured in 1000 healthy adolescents aged 11 to 18 yr. Measurements were made with the Standard Harpenden skinfold caliper. Females at all ages studied had thicker skinfolds than their male counterparts. Significant differences in skinfold fat were observed between the high and low socio-economic groups, in both sexes. TSF thickness among girls showed a steady gain throughout adolescence. In boys however, there was a dip in TSF followed by a slow rise, the final thickness being somewhat lower than the prepubertal value. TSF was found to have no correlation with height but good positive correlation with weight and wt/ht2 (body mass index). Hence it may be regarded as a reliable indicator of obesity in this age group, where variable pubertal growth makes nutritional assessment difficult.