Use of upper arm anthropometry, upper arm muscle area-by-height (UAMAH) and midupper- arm-circumference (MUAC)-for-height as indicators of body composition and nutritional status among children

Abstract

Upper arm anthropometry has a potential role to provide useful estimations of body composition and nutritional status. Aims of the present cross-sectional study were to assess body composition and nutritional status of rural school-going children using upper arm anthropometric measures such as upper arm muscle area-by-height (UAMAH) and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) for-height. The present cross-sectional study was conducted among 1281 children of West Bengal, India (boys 619, girls 662) aged 5-12 years and selected using a stratified random sampling method. Anthropometric measurements of height, weight, MUAC and triceps skinfold (TSF) were recorded. Body composition and nutritional status were assessed using upper arm muscle area (UMA), upper arm fat area (UFA), UAMAH and MUAC-forheight. Age-sex-specific overall adiposity in TSF, UFA, arm fat index and upper-arm fat area estimates were higher among girls than boys (p<0.01), but UMA and upper-arm muscle area estimates were observed to be higher among boys than girls (p<0.05). High prevalence of undernutrition was found among both boys (53.15%) and girls (41.69%) using UAMAH (p<0.01). The overall prevalence of low MUAC-forheight was higher among boys (28.59%) than girls (25.68%) (p>0.05). Upper arm anthropometric measures, UAMAH and MUAC-for-height are useful for assessment of body composition and nutritional status among children.

Soy protein supplement intake for 12 months has no effect on sexual maturation and may improve nutritional status in pre‐pubertal children

“…22 Recently, it has been shown, in boys and girls aged 5-12 years, that the upper arm muscle area (U) and upper arm circumference (C) of boys was higher than that of girls except at 5, 7 and 11 years of age. 23 This same tendency, but for M, was reported in children and adolescents 6-20 years old in India. 24 It has also been reported that the upper arm fat area is significantly higher in girls than in boys 23,24 ; however, it has been shown that it decreases in children 5-7 years old and subsequently increases from 7 to 10 years old.…”

“…Recently, it has been shown, in boys and girls aged 5–12 years, that the upper arm muscle area (U) and upper arm circumference (C) of boys was higher than that of girls except at 5, 7 and 11 years of age . This same tendency, but for M, was reported in children and adolescents 6–20 years old in India .…”

“…24 It has also been reported that the upper arm fat area is significantly higher in girls than in boys 23,24 ; however, it has been shown that it decreases in children 5-7 years old and subsequently increases from 7 to 10 years old. 23 This latter trend was found in the control group of this study as a significant increase in the percentage of children in the 75-90 percentiles for upper arm fat area ( Figure S2, Supporting Information).…”

Intergenerational changes in limb circumferences in children and adolescents aged 3‐18 from Kraków (Poland) from 1983 to 2010

“…The content of adipose tissue as well as muscle mass in the arm is positively correlated with total body fat measured by the skinfold thickness and fat‐free mass (Fricke et al, ). Therefore, mid‐upper arm circumference is useful not only as a diagnostic tool for malnutrition or underweight, but also for excessive weight and the prediction of overall body composition (de Almeida et al, ; Debnath, Mondal & Sen, ; Mazıcıoğlu et al, ).…”

Prevalence of Undernutrition and Overweight or Obesity Among the Bengali Muslim Population of West Bengal, India

“…1,2,[6][7][8] Several investigations demonstrated that a vast proportion of the population belongs to the underprivileged and undernourished segments in India. 12,[14][15][16] Recent studies have now observed that a considerable amount of overweight or obesity exist among Indian populations. 2,5,13,[17][18][19][20][21][22] Recent trends have indicated that the prevalence of overweight or obesity are also increasing among women belonging to lower socio-economic status in India.…”