Longitudional growth study of German children aged 0 to 6 years: Part 3. Longitudional development of the upper arm-, waist and hip circumference, the waist to hip- ratio, hip to height- and waist to hight- ratio and skinfolds thickness -age dependency and growth velocity curves

There are no longitudinal up-to-date standards of parameters available that characterize age-related weight-gain for German children aged 0 to 6 years. These data are of special importance concerning the increase of obesity. Current age-correlated data for upper arm circumference, waist and hip circumferences, different skinfolds and waist/hip, waist/height, and hip/height-ratios. Correlation between these parameters and the body mass index (BMI). Beginning at the second year of life, there is a strong correlation between BMI and circumference of hip and waist, waist/height-ratio, and hip/height-ratio. From the third year of life the correlation between BMI and upper arm circumference also becomes significant. The thickness of three skinfolds shows very differing developments. The subscapular and suprailiacal skinfolds increase in the first year of life and show afterwards a continuous decreasing until the sixth year. The triceps skinfold increases, however, until the fourth year of life following a steady-state up to the sixth year. To determine the pathogenic abdominal fat mass, the use of the waist/height ratio, which was calculated in a longitudinal study for German children for the first time, is recommended. From the third year of life the upper arm circumference can be used to assess nutritional condition.