SUBSCAPULAR TRICEPS INDEX PERCENTILES IN CUBAN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

The percentiles (3,10,25,50,75,90 and 97) of the subscapular/triceps I ndex (SS/TR),. obtained in a sample of 7286 subjects (3721 males and 3 765 females) aged 5 to 20 years, were calculated. Median values of SS/ TR are generally higher in females up to the age of 13 years approxima tely, and show a pattern of peripheral distribution of fat during all the period of study. In males, a pattern of central distribution of fa t develops starting from age fourteen and becomes more central as age increases. Values obtained were higher than those reported in the lite rature at all ages and in both sexes. The results reported in this pap er show that SS/TR is useful for assessing changes in the pattern of f at distribution during childhood and adolescence.