Dermatoglyphic patterns in children belonging to various BMI categories

Abstract

Childhood obesity has increased significantly all around the world. On one hand where being underweight predisposes a child towards infectious ailments whereas on the other hand obesity during childhood has been associated with many metabolic and cardiovascular illnesses. So the aim of the present study is to observe different types of dermatoglyphic patterns in adolescents of various body mass index percentile and their association, with body mass index. The sample consisted of 160 subjects belonging to age group 12-16 years, who were divided into four groups based on their body mass index. Significant differences have been found among the various groups in index and middle fingerprint pattern of right hand. So, it was concluded that significant differences exist between fingerprint patterns of adolescents belonging to various body mass index.