BODY-COMPOSITION OF RURAL AND URBAN CHILDREN FROM THE CENTRAL REGION OF SPAIN

Body composition components are considered in a cross-sectional sample of 2564 children (age range 6-14 years) from Central Spain. The sampl e was divided depending on rural or urban residence. Weight, and skinf old at the triceps, biceps, subscapular and suprailiac site were measu red. Body composition was represented by percentage fat (%F), lean bod y mass (LBM), fat mass (FM) and sum of skinfolds (SSK). Sex difference s were found to be highly significant for all variables and rural-urba n differences were small. Rural boys show slightly larger fat content, in %F, FM and SSK, than their urban peers, but significant (p < 0.05) differences appear only for SSK. No statistically significant environ mental effect was found for LBM. The improvement of living conditions, the urban influence on the rural area and the degree of urbanization of the urban settlement are suggested as the main determinants influen cing obtained results.