ADIPOMETRY - BODY-FAT DISTRIBUTION AND TOTAL ESTIMATION

Due to the fact that equal or greater pathologic significance than the total amount of body fat has been given to the fat distribution, e.g. "android" vs "gynoid" tipes, in recent years, the new concept of adipometry (ADM) and its first results in Argentina are presented. One hundred and sixty five (81 men and 84 women) adults, equally divided between the 20-39 and 40-60 aged groups, with BMI, tricipital skinfold and relative body weight within normal limits, were selected to obtain the normal values for percentage of body fat (infrared interactance) and waist (W) to gluteal (G) circunferences ratio. The results of ADM confirm that women do have more fat (ages 20-39: 24.0 +/- 4.2 % and 40-60: 27.0 +/- 4.6 %) than men (ages 20-39: 11.5 +/- 5.5% and 40-60: 17.2 +/- 4.4%), and that aging increases the body fat content in both sexes. The W/G ratio was significantly higher in men at all ages, due to a significantly greater W-circunference. The use of infrared interactance to measure the percentage of body fat proved to be a realiable method which correlated best, particularly in men, with the tricipital skinfold measurement. These ADM results in normal adult argentinians, could be useful to improve the quantitive (% of body fat) and the qualitive (W/G ratio) diagnosis of obesity and help in the prevention of its complications.