The present study analyzes the prevalence of overweight/obesity in a sample of young adults from the University of the Basque Country (Spain), and tests the efficiency of the silhouettes to predict overweight/obesity. This cross‐sectional study was conducted in a sample of volunteer university students from the University of the Basque Country (356 men and 745 women, age: 18–33 years), who came to the Physical Anthropology laboratory where a standardized questionnaire was administered and anthropometric measurements were taken by a well‐trained anthropometrist. Height and weight were obtained. BMI was calculated as weight/height2 (kg/m2) and it was used as a reference method. Using a questionnaire, based on the standard figural stimuli, subjects were asked to choose the silhouette which was closest to his/her usual appearance (current body size). The accuracy of the Williamson et al.'s silhouettes as an overweight‐obesity indicator was analyzed by gender‐specific receiver operating curve (ROC). The cutoff figure to distinguish between nonoverweight and overweight‐obese individuals corresponded to number 7 in men and 6 in women. These cutoff values matched optimal sensitivity and specificity, with few nonoverweight subjects selecting silhouettes bigger than 7 in the case of men or 6 for women. In conclusion, the figural stimuli allows the identification of populations at overweight/obesity risk with the simple use of silhouettes, at least in this rank of age, where the overweight and obesity are yet little frequent.

RESUMEN Los estudios sobre el impacto del estatus socioeconómico (SES) en las dimensiones corporales tienen una amplia tradición científica, ya que la variabilidad y evolución de estas son un reflejo del bienestar poblacional. El objetivo de este trabajo es estudiar el efecto del nivel socioeconómico (SES) sobre un conjunto de variables antropométricas que describen el tamaño, la forma y la composición corporal, en una muestra de 1105 estudiantes universitarios de ambos sexos (18 a 33 años de edad), residentes en el País Vasco. El nivel socioeconómico (SES) de cada individuo se evaluó a partir de la profesión y nivel de estudios de sus progenitores, y su influencia sobre las dimensiones antropométricas se analizó con metodología PALABRAS CLAVE nivel social (SES); rasgos antropométricos; somatotipo antropométrico multivariada. El SES influyó notablemente sobre la estatura (en particular la profesión paterna) y la circunferencia de la cadera en ambos sexos. En los varones, el índice de masa corporal (IMC), el porcentaje de grasa (%G) y la endomorfia también están influenciados por el SES. En general, los individuos de mayor nivel socioeconómico son más altos, tienen menores valores del IMC y de las variables de adiposidad, y una morfología más longilínea. Destaca la mayor sensibilidad de los fenotipos masculinos frente a los indicadores de tipo socioeconómico y la menor variabilidad antropométrica de las mujeres respecto a dichos factores. Rev Arg Antrop Biol 18 (1) ABSTRACT Studies on the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on body dimensions have an extensive scientific tradition, since their variability and evolution are a reflection of population welfare. The aim of this work is to study theeffect of socioeconomic status (SES) on several anthropometric traits describing size, shape, and body composition, in a sample of 1105college students of both sexes (18-33 years old) living in the Basque Country. Socioeconomic status (SES) of each individual was estimated from their parents' profession and educational level, and its influence on anthropometric dimensions was analyzed with multivariate methodology.SES significantly influenced height (in particular the father profession) and hip circumference in both sexes. In males, body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (%BF), and endomorphy were also influenced by SES. In general, individuals of higher socioeconomic status are taller, have lower values of BMI and of adiposity variables, and a more longilinear morphology. The greater sensitivity of male phenotypes in relation to socioeconomic indicators and the low anthropometric variability of women regarding these factors are to be noted. Rev Arg Antrop Biol 18(1), 2016. doi:10.17139/raab.2016.0018.01.02 El tamaño y la forma del adulto son producto de los procesos de crecimiento y desarrollo, eventos estrechamente ligados y afectados por factores genéticos, ambientales y por la interacción entre ambos. El ambiente humano no es sencillo de definir y además puede influir de forma diferencial a lo largo del ciclo vi...