THE NEED FOR REVISED STANDARDS FOR SKINFOLD THICKNESS IN INFANCY

Skinfold standards provide a useful indication of subcutaneous fat. To evaluate skinfold thickness of 252 Cambridge infants over the first 2 gears of age, SD scores relative to the Tanner standards were calcula ted, taking account of skewness in the standards. Cambridge SD scores were low, varying according to age from -1.2 to -1.8 for triceps and - 0.6 to -1.2 for subscapular skinfolds. The Tanner skinfold standards w ere last revised 30 years ago, at a time of high prevalence of infanti le obesity, and the present and other studies indicate that infants ar e now thinner. There is a need for new skinfold standards to reflect t his change. Since the Cambridge infants contributed to the recent Brit ish height and weight references, it is suggested that their skinfold measurements could also serve as reference points.