Longitudinal studies of anthropometric data and body composition. The population study of women in Götenberg, Sweden.

Anthropometric data and body composition, estimated from total body potassium and total body water determinations, were studied in 1968 to 1968 and 1974 to 1975 in a population sample of middle-aged women. Altogether 1302 women participated in the anthropometric studies and 79 women in the body composition studies on both occasions. Body height decreased with age both secularly and biologically. The reduction of body height was greater at higher ages. Body weight increased with age, the change being partly a cohort effect and partly an effect of age. Evidence of a reduced muscle mass in the arms with age was found. Body cell mass increased with age in some age strata. There was an increase in subcutaneous fat with age, both in the arms and in the trunk. Body fat did not change significantly with age in the age strata studied. A change in body weight was accompanied by a smiliar change in both body fat and body cell mass.