Seasonal Variation of Total Body Fat in Men

사람의 피부두겹 및 총지방량에 관한 연주 -제1편 총지방량의 계절적 변동-

Skinfold thickness measurement and total body fat calculation were made in summer (July) and winter (December or January) On 70 medical students (age: 20 yr),8 national team basketball players (age: 20 yr), and 9 middle-age men. Skinfold thickness measurements were made on 4 sites, namely, back, arm, waist and abdomen. The mean skinfold thickness (mm) of the 4 sites was substituted into the following formulae. For adult of 20 years old: % Fat=0.911x+8.1, and for middle-aged men % Fat=1.199x+1.41. In young medical students and ball players body weight decreased, mean skinfold thickness increased in winter season. As a result total body fat .(% body weight) increased in winter In middle-aged men both body weight and mean skinfold thickness increased in winter and resulted in an increase in the total body fat. The detailed data are as follows: 1. In medical students summer: winter values were: body weight, 59.7 :58.9 kg; mean skinfold thickness, 7.85 : 8.12 mm; and total body fat, 15.0 : 15.5% body weight (P<.30). 2. In national team basketball players summer: winter values were: body weight, 73.5 : 69.1 kg; mean skinfold thickness, 7.2 : 7.5 mm; total body fat, 11.6 : 12.1% (P:NS). 3. In middle-aged men summer vs winter values were: body weight, 61.5 : 63.0 kg; mean skinfold thickness, 10.3 : 11.8 mm; total body fat, 17.2 : 18.0% (P:NS). 4. Skinfold thickness on back showed no seasonal variation and on abdomen the thickness increased in winter. 5. It was concluded that the predominant factor in increasing total body fat in winter is the decrease in body exercise in the winter time.