Age, sex and socioeconomic correlates of fat patterning among adults from the Chandigarh zone of northwest India.

Fat patterns were derived from principal-component analysis of skinfolds and circumferences of 651 northwest Indian adults 18-49 years of age of high and low socioeconomic class. All measurements were corrected for absolute size prior to the analysis. As described in other ethnic groups, two patterns emerged: trunk/extremity and upper/lower body, based upon skinfolds and circumferences respectively. There was a general trend towards increases with age in upper body trunk fatness, somewhat more pronounced in upper than lower SES subsamples. Sexual dimorphism was greater in upper SES individuals due to an intensification of those patterns associated with each sex. Not only do lower SES females have less body fat than their upper SES counterparts, they have relatively less on their lower bodies (hips and thighs), which, in females, may serve as sites of energy storage.