Objective: To describe the proportion of body fat mass, quantified from the measurement of 4 skinfold thickness, in a sample of male children of Zaragoza.
Methods: In 1995, we have studied 701 males aged 6.0 to 14.9 years, from 6 schools of the province of Zaragoza. We have measured: weight, height, and biceps, triceps, subscapular and suprailiac skinfold thicknesses. Body density has been calculated from the 4 skinfold measurements, with the formulas of Sarría et al. Fat mass (%), was calculated with the Weststrate and Deurenberg's formulas. In each age group, we present mean, standard deviation and 5, 25, 50, 75 and 95th percentiles.
Results: We present mean, standard deviation and 5, 25, 50, 75 and 95th percentiles of body fat mass (%), in each age group. Body fat mass (%) progressively increased until 10.5 years and, after, progressively decrease at least until 14.5 years.
Conclusions: We present data of body fat mass (%), calculated from the measurement of 4 skinfold thicknesses, obtained from a reference population in the province of Zaragoza. These data are useful as more rationale criteria in the diagnosis of obesity in children and adolescents.