1282
R.C. Sitinkamp, N. L. CoHen, W. E. Sint, PT. W. SARGENT and H, E. WALSH
JARLE |.
Race
Sex
Caucasian
Male
Caucasian
Femuatle
Age
(yr)
Measures of Body Fat and Related Factors in Normal Adults—!
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS
Anthropometric
measurements Interview
Laboratory
measurements
Somato——____—_—_—— t ype
TBW, K4
body
Cs18?
Somatotype
and lab.
measurements
density
C
; Negro
Male
25-34
35-44
25-34
35-44
25-44
Subtotal
Negro
Oriental
Other
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
478
416
379
438
342
106
105
101
101
103
35
34
33
31
34
23
25
12
16
4
113
26
17
9
—_
9
3
1
1
—
2053
516
167
80
165
14
25-44
25-44
25-44
25-44
25-44
154
32
42
14
4
Total
2301
1283
3. Upper arm length. With the subject standing, right arm relaxed but flexed 90°
at the elbow, the tape was applied from the lateral margin of the acromial process of
the scapula to the tip of the olecranon process. The distance between these landmarks
was recorded. A skin mark was madeat half this length for use in the arm circumference and skinfold measurements.
4. Armcircumference. The tape was applied to encircle the mid-point of the upper
arm length.
5. Wrist circumference. The tape was applied to encircle the right wrist over the
styloid processes of the ulna and the radius.
6. Chest circumference. With the subject standing, arms at sides, and breathing
quietly, the tape was applied to the chest so as to encompassthe areolae for men and
the axillae above the area of breast fullness for women.
7. Waist circumference. The tape was applied, with the subject standing and
breathing quietly, to the circumference encompassing the lower borders of the tenth
ribs at the mid-axillary lines.
516
167
80
165
14
Note: TBW =Total body water.
METHODS
One individual (R.C.S.) measured all the women and a few of the men. The
majority of the men were measured by a second investigator (G.B.). The two
examiners thoroughly compared techniques to establish uniformity and to assure
reproducibility of results, Measurements were recorded by another individual
(N.L.C.) on the data collection sheet which served as the code sheet for keypunching.
1. Weight. A Homsportable scale (capacity 300 Ib) accurate to 1 oz was used and
was checked at frequent intervals by the California State Department of Weights and
Measures. Weights were made to the nearest ounce with women subjects wearing only
a disposable examining gown (weight 3 oz) and either barefoot or with stockings and
with men wearing only shorts and either barefoot or with socks. Shorts and socks
typical of those worn were weighed and averaged 5 oz. The weights of the subjects
were corrected to nude weights. Ounces were transposed to hundredths of a pound for
coding.
.
2. Height. Heights were measured to the nearest 0.1 cm by means of a freestanding portable Swiss-madesteel measuring bar, calibrated to 0.1 cm and having a
sliding straight edge. The subject, either barefoot or with stockings, was positioned with
heels, buttocks and back pressed firmly to a wall with the examiner applying firm
upward pressure to the subject’s mastoid processes without allowing heels to be raised
from the floor. The straight edge was then adjusted to the cranial vertex.
The following measurements (3-11) were taken on the right side of the body and
recorded to the nearest 0.1 cm with a steel tape closely fitted to the nude body surface
but not so tight as to indent the skin. These body measurements were later rounded to
the nearest whole centimeter. If the number ended in a half-centimeter, odd whole
numbers were raised to the next highest centimeter; even whole numbers were unchanged. A single tape was used for approximately 200 subjects and then discarded.
8. Iliac crest circumference. With the subject standing, the tape was applied to
encircle the body at the iliac crests and was maintained parallel to the floor. _
9. Thigh length. Measurement was made from the skin surface over the right
greater trochanter to that over the right inferior borderof the lateral epicondyle of the
femur. These landmarks were located by having the subject stand with the right knee
slightly flexed, leg abducted and with the right foot remaining on the floor. A skin mark
was madeathalf this distance for the thigh circumference and diameter measurements.
10. Thigh circumference. The tape was applied to encircle the right thigh at the
mid-point of the thigh length.
11. Ankle circumference. The ankle was encircled with the tape at a point just
superior to the lateral malleolus.
The following measurements (12-16) were taken with a curved-arm metal caliper
(Martin) calibrated to 0.5 cm. The readings were recorded to the closest 0.5 cm and
later rounded for coding purposes to whole centimeters as previously detailed. Firm
pressure on the caliper arms was used to displace insofar as possible any fat deposits
over the bony prominences.
12. Biacromial diameter. With the subject standing erect, relaxed and breathing
quietly, the distance between the most lateral margins of the acromial processes of the
scapulae were measured.
13. Antero-posterior chest diameter. With the subject in position as for biacromial
diameter, the distance between the sternal angle and the fourth thoracic vertebral
spinous process was measured.
14. Bi-iliac diameter. With the subject erect, the calipers were applied firmly to the
most lateral margins and the distance measured across the widest flare of the iliac
crests.
15. Antero-posterior diameter at iliac crest level. With the subject standing, and
breathing quietly, the calipers were applied to the spinous process of the vertebra at
the level of the iliac crests and to a parallel position over the mid-abdominal wall. In
this instance only the caliper arm over the bony prominence was pressed firmly; the
anterior arm touched but did not indent the skin.