LAUSR

OBJECTIVE The primary purpose of this study was to establish Turkish smoothed centile charts and LMS tables for four-site skinfold thickness based on a population-based sample and secondary purpose was to elaborate a reference for the percentage of body fat. DESIGN A cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted between January and May 2017. Triceps, biceps and subscapular, suprailiac skinfold thickness were measured using Holtain skinfold caliper. Age and gender specific percentile values were determined with the LMS method, and body fat percentage was calculated using the Westrate and Deurenberg equation. SETTING Afyonkarahisar province in Turkey. PARTICIPANTS This study was conducted on 4565, 6-18 years old students. RESULTS The triceps, biceps, and subscapular skinfolds of the girls were higher than the boys. From the age of seven, the sum of four skinfold thicknesses of the girls was more than those of the boys. This difference became more evident after the age of 12. Although fat percentages of girls showed a fluctuating change, it decreased with the age in boys. Westrate and Deurenberg equation fat percentages of girls until adolescence were lower than boys, but increased after 12 years of age and exceeded that of boys. CONCLUSIONS This study has provided sex and age specific reference values for skinfold thickness, and has shown that obesity in girls is higher than in boys in schoolchildren in Afyonkarahisar. This study has also shown that skinfold thickness measurements are a valuable tool for screening obesity in children.