Define measuring body composition- Skin fold measurement?
The clinical use, skin fold measurement can be taken with the help of calipers. The calipers are applied at constant pressure at selected body sites to measure the fat fold thickness. The measurements at different sites can then be used to calculate the total body fat using mathematical equations. This is the only method that can be used in none laboratory situations for deterring the amount of body fat. The triceps, biceps, sub scapular, abdominal hip, pectoral and calf areas have been studied.
With increase in the age of an individual, there is a decline in calf, triceps and biceps skin folds and an in increase in abdomen : hip circumference ratio (AHR). A high AHR indicates excess abdominal fat, which is due to relocation of body fat centrally and is associated with various chronic degenerative diseases like hypertension and hypertrigly ceridemia. Now take a break and recapitulate what you have learnt so far. So by now we hope you are well versed with the changes associated with ageing. Next, let us find out how these changes influences the nutrient needs of the elderly.