N Cameron1, B Getz. 1. Department of Anatomical Sciences, University of Witwatersrand Medical School, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and gender differences in obesity in rural African adolescents. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of a mixed-longitudinal study. SUBJECTS: Four hundred and forty-seven rural African adolescents (190 females; 257 males) aged 7.0-18.9 y. MEASUREMENTS: Anthropometric measurements of height, weight, and skinfolds at the bicep (BCP), tricep (TRCP), subscapular (SSCP) and suprailiac (SPIL) sites and derived ratios of fat distribution including trunk:limb ratios (SSTB = (SSCP + SPIL)/(TRCP + BCP) and ST = SSCP/TRCP), and the upper:lower truncal ratio (TRUNK = SSCP/SPIL). Obesity was defined as (1) a BMI greater than the NHANES III 85% centile or (2) the sum of TRCP and SSCP skinfolds greater than the NHANES III 85% centile. RESULTS: Skinfold measures were significantly greater in females throughout the age range but remarkably greater divergence was apparent after mean menarcheal age of 14.03 y (s.d. = 1.25). Centralization of body fat was consistently greater in males but only significantly so after 14 y of age for the ST ratio. Obesity, defined by BMI or sum of skinfolds, was greatest in females following menarche reaching a maximum of 16.7% by BMI and 11.1% by sum of skinfolds, and almost non-existent in males. CONCLUSIONS: Increased prevalence of obesity in African females did not occur throughout adolescence but was linked to the timing of menarche. Increased fatness and obesity appears to be a post-menarcheal phenomenon probably caused by the hormonal changes leading to and following first menstruation.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and gender differences in obesity in rural African adolescents. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of a mixed-longitudinal study. SUBJECTS: Four hundred and forty-seven rural African adolescents (190 females; 257 males) aged 7.0-18.9 y. MEASUREMENTS: Anthropometric measurements of height, weight, and skinfolds at the bicep (BCP), tricep (TRCP), subscapular (SSCP) and suprailiac (SPIL) sites and derived ratios of fat distribution including trunk:limb ratios (SSTB = (SSCP + SPIL)/(TRCP + BCP) and ST = SSCP/TRCP), and the upper:lower truncal ratio (TRUNK = SSCP/SPIL). Obesity was defined as (1) a BMI greater than the NHANES III 85% centile or (2) the sum of TRCP and SSCP skinfolds greater than the NHANES III 85% centile. RESULTS: Skinfold measures were significantly greater in females throughout the age range but remarkably greater divergence was apparent after mean menarcheal age of 14.03 y (s.d. = 1.25). Centralization of body fat was consistently greater in males but only significantly so after 14 y of age for the ST ratio. Obesity, defined by BMI or sum of skinfolds, was greatest in females following menarche reaching a maximum of 16.7% by BMI and 11.1% by sum of skinfolds, and almost non-existent in males. CONCLUSIONS: Increased prevalence of obesity in African females did not occur throughout adolescence but was linked to the timing of menarche. Increased fatness and obesity appears to be a post-menarcheal phenomenon probably caused by the hormonal changes leading to and following first menstruation.
Authors: Sara K Hanson; Richard J Munthali; Elizabeth A Lundeen; Linda M Richter; Shane A Norris; Aryeh D Stein Journal: J Nutr Date: 2018-06-01 Impact factor: 4.798
Authors: Georgina Av Murphy; Gershim Asiki; Kenneth Ekoru; Rebecca N Nsubuga; Jessica Nakiyingi-Miiro; Elizabeth H Young; Janet Seeley; Manjinder S Sandhu; Anatoli Kamali Journal: Int J Epidemiol Date: 2013-11-04 Impact factor: 7.196