Orthogonal factor coefficient development of subcutaneous adipose tissue topography (SAT-Top) in girls and boys

The new optical device Lipometer allows noninvasive, quick, and safe determ ination of the thickness of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) layers (in mm ) at any site of the human body. The specification of 15 evenly distributed body sites enables the precise measurement of subcutaneous body fat distri bution, so-called subcutaneous adipose tissue topography (SAT-Top). SAT-Top was measured in 980 children aged 7-19 years. In this paper we describe th e degree to which SAT-Top body sites are intercorrelated. We consider wheth er a meaningful reduction of data is possible using factor analysis, which factors can be extracted, and how SAT-Top data of children can be added to a factor value plot, depicting the essential results of age-dependent subcu taneous fat development. SAT layers situated on the same body area provide correlation coefficients up to +r = 0.91. Two factors are extracted: factor 1, containing all upper body sites (from neck to hip); and factor 2, consisting of all leg body sit es. When all 980 children are divided into three age groups in a factor value p lot, the first age group (7-11 years) shows almost equal SAT-Top developmen t in boys and girls. Afterwards, for the consecutive age groups 2 (11-15 ye ars) and 3 (15-19 years), the age-dependent subcutaneous fat development of boys and girls progresses into nearly orthogonal directions. (C) 2001 Wiie y-Liss, Inc.