Topical Distribution of the Subcutaneous Fat Tissue on some Parts and Regions of the Body in Children and Adolescents from South Bulgaria

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this paper is to assess, in intersexual and interage aspects, the topical distribution of SFT on the various body parts and areas of children and adolescents from different territorial regions of southern Bulgaria. We transversally examined 1491 children and adolescents aged 10 to 17 years (753 girls and 738 boys) from schools in the municipalities of Plovdiv, Pazardjik, Haskovo, Svilengrad. The subjects were divided into 8 one-year age groups. We measured calliper-metrically the thicknesses of 9 SF on the body and limbs. The topical SFT distribution on different body parts and areas was estimated basing on the following ratios: Ratio of SFT—torso/limbs of 4 SF; Ratio of SFT—torso/limbs of 6 SF; Ratio of SFT—upper/lower torso—4 SF; Two Ratio of SFT—upper/lower limbs: (1) and (2). The results show that in students from both genders, the processes of redistribution of SFT on the upper and lower parts of the body are most intensive in the period 15–16 years. In boys there is a tendency towards an increase of the SFT on the upper torso—chest, while in girls—on the lower part the abdomen. Throughout the period 10–17 years, in both genders, the thickness of SFT is higher on the lower limbs in comparison with the upper limbs.

Keywords:

• skin folds
• ratios
• age
• gender
• children
• adolescents