User Manual

Lafayette Instrument Skinfold Caliper II
3700 Sagamore Parkway North Lafayette, IN 47904
.
Phone: [phone]
10
Although we know skinfolds are related to body fatness in children, we are yet unable to determine
absolute amounts of body fat with certainty. As children mature, the relation of skinfold fat to body
fatness changes. Today, national percentile norms are the best frame of reference for interpreting
skinfold fat results.
The criterion for the wanted degree of fatness in children falls above the 50
th
percentile. Children
between the 50
th
and 25
th
percentile should maintain their weight at that level for the current year.
Those below the 25
th
percentile should be strongly encouraged to reduce their weight until their
skinfold fat measurement reaches a more acceptable level.
*The norms for age 17 can be used for age 18
Source: From F. E. Johnson et al., Skinfold Thickness of Children 6-11 Years and Skinfold Thickness of Youth
12-17 Years (Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, 1972, 1974). Also presented in
full in the AAHPERD Manual, 1980.
Table 3: Percentile norms for boys for sum of triceps plus subscapular skinfolds.
Age 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17*
Percentile
95 8 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9
75 11 11 11 11 12 12 11 12 11 12 12 12
50 12 12 13 14 14 16 15 15 14 14 14 15
25 14 15 17 18 19 22 21 22 20 20 20 21
5 20 24 28 34 33 38 44 46 37 40 37 38
Table 4: Percentile norms for girls for sum of triceps plus subscapular skinfolds.
*The norms for age 17 can be used for age 18
Source: From F. E. Johnson et al., Skinfold Thickness of Children 6-11 Years and Skinfold Thickness of Youth
12-17 Years (Washington, D.C.: U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, 1972, 1974). Also presented in
full in the AAHPERD Manual, 1980.
Age 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17*
Percentile
95 9 10 10 10 10 11 11 12 13 14 14 15
75 12 12 13 14 14 15 15 16 18 20 20 20
50 14 15 16 17 18 19 19 20 24 25 25 27
25 17 19 21 24 25 25 27 30 32 34 34 36
5 26 28 36 40 41 42 48 51 52 56 57 58