Cardiovascular Journal of Africa: Vol 30 No 6 (November/December 2019)

CARDIOVASCULAR JOURNAL OF AFRICA • Volume 30, No 6, November/December 2019

350

AFRICA

while Ibeabuchi

et al

reported that chest size increases with age.

Chest girth has been shown to be a valuable indicator of frame

size and lean body mass and an estimate of relative weight, and

to be more associated with body mass than with stature.

This

could have contributed to the similarity of findings from the

current study and that of Henneberg and Ulijaszek.

Teghan

et al

found significant correlation coefficients (

0.087–0.511) in both males and females aged six to 20 years from

the Western Cape Province between bi-acromial and bi-iliocristal

indices with three skinfold thicknesses (triceps, subscapular

and abdominal), but not between trunk and limb lengths and

skinfolds. In the current study, similar results were reported (

0.075–0.207) among the age group 11 to 15 years only. Guzmán-

de la Garza

et al

further reported that body frame size in school

children was associated with the amount of adipose tissue in

various depots but not adipose tissue distribution. Body frame

size evaluations have been shown to be valuable proxy estimates

of fatness and musculoskeletal strength, according to the Heath–

Carter somatotype method.

20,21

Chest breadth was found to increase with age in the current

study (based on the mean) while a study by Ibeabuchi

et al

also reported age-related increments with chest breadth among

adolescent females aged 10 to 17 years. Moreover, similar

observations were made in a study conducted among school

children aged six to 13 years in Mexico.

Chest breadth measure

has been shown to be a valuable indicator of frame size and

lean body mass. Moreover, it has been shown to be an estimate

of relative weight, and is more correlated with body mass than

with stature.

19,23

Research on body frame could be used as an indicator for

obesity or cardiovascular risk. The current study could be useful

for comparison with similar studies

in adults, although it was

carried out in children. Ultimately it will assist in determining

whether evaluation criteria for children should utilise the same

components as that for adults, especially since some body frame

measures increase with age.

The girls in age group 11 to 15 years of the current study

had the highest prevalence of overweight (13.8%) while the boys

in the same age group had an overweight prevalence of 6.3%.

The girls in age group eight to 10 years had the highest level

of obesity (5.5%) while the boys in the same age group had a

prevalence of 2.4%. Most of the boys in the age group 11 to 15

years had mild undernutrition (23.8) while 10.2% of girls in age

group five to seven years had severe undernutrition. Moreover,

19% of children from the villages in the central region of

Limpopo Province were reported to be underweight.

In a study conducted among rural South African children

from Ellisras in Limpopo Province, it was reported that the

prevalence of overweight manifested at age 10 years or older,

from 1.1 to 2.9% and 0.6 to 4.6% for boys and girls, respectively.

It was further reported that the 12-year-old boys and 13-year-old

girls (2.9 and 4.6%, respectively) had the highest prevalence of

overweight.

The prevalence of overweight in the current study

was higher than that of Monyeki

et al

This could be because

of differences in the environment and its associated factors that

the children are exposed to, such as food, physical activities and

socio-economic status, as some children resided in rural settings

while others resided in urban areas.

Limitations

Comparison was not made between these urban private school

children and their rural public school counterparts. Hence it is

unknown whether the environment and socio-economic status

of subjects had an impact on the findings. The association

between body frame and adiposity was not assessed over time,

to eliminate the possibility of temporary factors that may have

affected the results. Body weight, fat distribution and adiposity

are used and compared for the prediction of bone mineral

status,

and such an inclusion could have strengthened the study.

Conclusion

There was a positive significant correlation between adiposity

(reflected by skinfolds and BMI) and several measures of

body frame size among Polokwane private school children.

Furthermore, the correlation was the strongest in age group 11

to 15 years. Obesity prevalence was higher in female than male

children. Body frame size can be used in the detection of risk for

obesity. The results of this study can be used in clinical settings

to estimate the optimal body weight of patients for a given

height, since body frame size is an essential factor in determining

the optimal body weight.

Since body frame size is associated

with adiposity, this association can be incorporated as part of

Table 4. Pearson correlation coefficients for body frame and adiposity variables among

Polokwane private school children for age group 11 to 15 years

Height

BMI

Triceps

skinfold

Sub-

scapular

skinfold

Abdomi-

nal skin-

fold

Sum

skinfolds

Bi-

acromial

width

A-P

chest

Trans-

verse

chest

Bi-

iliocristal

width

Waist

girth

Gluteal

girth

Chest

girth

Height

0.172** 0.104** 0.223** 0.264** 0.231** 0.609** 0.343** 0.552** 0.454** 0.442** 0.650** 0.564**

BMI

0.289** 1

0.320** 0.263** 0.282** 0.345** 0.279** 0.346** 0.331** 0.237** 0.465** 0.531** 0.515**

Triceps skinfold

0.257** 0.561** 1

0.505** 0.23** 0.855** 0.136** 0.066 0.132** 0.075 0.263** 0.345** 0.178**

Subscapular skinfold 0.293** 0.571** 0.705** 1

0.526** 0.760** 0.179** 0.060 0.195** 0.109** 0.274** 0.396** 0.250**

Abdominal skinfold 0.200** 0.358** 0.470** 0.526** 1

0.844** 0.207** 0.097* 0.221** 0.114** 0.289** 0.424** 0.224**

Sum skinfolds

0.282** 0.554** 0.812** 0.811** 0.874** 1

0.208** 0.091* 0.216** 0.117** 0.332** 0.466** 0.256**

Bi-acromial width

0.532** 0.322** 0.304** 0.296** 0.198** 0.299** 1

0.251** 0.557** 0.349** 0.428** 0.530** 0.520**

A-P chest

0.317** 0.347** 0.209** 0.189** 0.161** 0.215** 0.480** 1

0.329** 0.307** 0.320** 0.357** 0.465**

Transverse chest

0.412** 0.383** 0.277** 0.282** 0.181** 0.276** 0.584** 0.591** 1

0.424** 0.463** 0.524** 0.596**

Bi-iliocristal width

0.384** 0.217** 0.142** 0.126** 0.053 0.114** 0.475** 0.552** 0.584** 1

0.319** 0.383** 0.390**

Waist girth

0.398** 0.643** 0.501** 0.510** 0.340** 0.506** 0.403** 0.292** 0.358** 0.221** 1

0.598** 0.644**

Gluteal girth

0.629** 0.703** 0.598** 0.602** 0.407** 0.603** 0.484** 0.343** 0.429** 0.342** 0.669** 1

0.631**

Chest girth

0.509** 0.595** 0.424** 0.462** 0.292** 0.438** 0.450** 0.361** 0.460** 0.216** 0.660** 0.650** 1