INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LATEST TECHNOLOGY IN ENGINEERING,

MANAGEMENT & APPLIED SCIENCE (IJLTEMAS)

ISSN 2278-2540 | DOI: 10.51583/IJLTEMAS | Volume XV, Issue I, January 2026

Skinfold Thickness: An Anthropometric Parameter to Determine the

Nutritional Status among College Girls

Monika Sharma*, Dr. Shashi Pathak

Department of Home Science, Shri Khushal Das University, Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, INDIA

DOI : https://doi.org/10.51583/IJLTEMAS.2026.150100031

Received: 11 January 2026; Accepted: 16 January 2026; Published: 28 January 2026

ABSTRACT

Body fat plays a crucial role in human physiology, and its distribution throughout the body influences the

health outcomes (1). The types of fats differ based on location, function, and metabolic impact. Anatomically,

there are several different depots of fat, including subcutaneous, visceral, intramuscular, intermuscular, and

ectopic (2). Skinfold thickness measurement at common sites of the body, like triceps, biceps, subscapular,

suprailiac, and thigh regions, provides an estimate of the body fat for health professionals to assess the health

of a person (3). This research examines the skinfold thickness measurements of 106 female students between

the ages of 16 and 25 years to evaluate their nutritional status. The measurement results of skinfold vary across

participant girls, ranging from 47 mm to 140 mm, indicating substantial differences in subcutaneous fat. The

Sum of skinfold (SSF) of samples Around 37.5% of the sample fell into the high-adiposity category (SSF >100

mm), while 33% had moderate levels of adiposity (SSF 70–100 mm). Subscapular and suprailiac skinfold

measurements were used to measure central adiposity, which was highest in girls with higher body weights.

Keywords: Anthropometric Parameter, Skinfold Thickness, Sum of Skinfold, body fat, Nutritional Status,

INTRODUCTION

Clinically, body fat is classified in five different categories depending upon the place it is stored in the human

body (2). First is Subcutaneous Fat, which is stored beneath the skin but above the muscles. This is about 90%

of the body fat and generally found around the thighs, abdomen, arms, buttocks and upper back of the body(4–

6). It is the fat, we observe when pinching. Main function of this subcutaneous fat is to store energy required

for various hormones, providing insulation and maintaining body temperature, to provide cushion and first

level of defence against injuries (1). Second is Visceral Fat, which surrounds the internal organs like, liver,

pancreas, intestines, heart, etc. It’s present deep inside the body and cushions the organs. This act as a source

of energy for organs, but having too much visceral fat may be harmful and causes metabolic disorder (7). Belly

fat comprises of both visceral and subcutaneous fat (8). Third is Intramuscular Fat, which is present in the

skeletal muscles. It’s main function is to provide energy to muscles, which help in locomotive activities.

Fourth is Intermuscular fat lies between muscles or between distinct muscle groups. Intermuscular fat plays an

important role in ageing, muscle health, and metabolic risk. Intramuscular fat is different from intermuscular

fat in terms of location of its presence, while the former is inside muscles and the later between muscles (9).

Generally, organs like the liver, heart, kidney, pancreas don’t store fat, therefore accumulation of fat around

them adversely affect their functioning. This is the fifth type of fat which is called Ectopic Fat (7). Ectopic fat

is harmful and causes metabolic diseases.

Many pathological techniques like Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT),

Ultrasound, Biopsy, etc. are being used to measure the intermuscular fat, intramuscular fat, ectopic fat and

Visceral Fat in the human body. But, anthropometric methods of measurement of body fat, especially for

subcutaneous fat and visceral fat, is the first line of diagnosis of a person’s health and nutritional assessment.

Skinfold thickness measurement is a widely used, cost-effective, non-invasive, quick and less time-consuming

technique to assess the body fat and nutritional level. This study examines skinfold data obtained from 106

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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LATEST TECHNOLOGY IN ENGINEERING,

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ISSN 2278-2540 | DOI: 10.51583/IJLTEMAS | Volume XV, Issue I, January 2026

female students to find out the level of subcutaneous fat among college girls and identify their nutritional

concerns related to obesity.

DATA COLLECTION AND METHODOLOGY

Skinfold thickness, An Anthropometric Parameter, Measurement technique

This is a practical method for estimating body fat percentage by measuring subcutaneous fat at standardised

sites. When used correctly, it provides reliable data for fitness assessments, health screening, and tracking body

composition over time. It involves using skinfold calipers to pinch and measure the thickness of skin and the

underlying fat layer at specific sites on the body (10). Depending on the protocol used, skinfold thickness is

measured at 3, 4, 7, or more standardised anatomical sites, like chest, abdomen, thigh, triceps, subscapular,

suprailiac, midaxillary, etc, which are the depots of fat. Fat distribution on the body is different for men and

women (11,12). Women tend to deposit more fat in the gluteal-femoral, hip, thigh, and lower body regions.

The following skin fold measurements are commonly used in anthropometry to assess the fat at different body

parts (13):

1. Triceps Skinfold: A Measure of vertical fold at the back of the upper arm, midpoint between the shoulder

and elbow.

2. Biceps Skinfold: Measure of vertical fold at the front of the upper arm, midpoint between the shoulder and

elbow.

3. Suprailiac Skinfold: Measure of horizontal fold at 2-3 cm above the hip bone

4. Abdominal Skinfold: Measure of horizontal fold at 2-3 cm side of navel and below the navel line.

5. Subscapular Skinfold: Measure of diagonal fold below the lower tip of the shoulder blade

6. Thigh Skinfold: Measure of vertical fold at the Front of the thigh, midway between the hip and the knee

7. Chest Skinfold: Measure of diagonal fold between the armpit and nipple (for males half way between the

armpit and the nipple and for females its one-third way)

8. Calf Skinfiold: Measure of the vertical fold at widest part of the calf

9. Midaxillary Skinfold: Measure of the vertical fold on the mid-axillary line which runs directly down from

the center of the armpit

10. Supraspinale Skinfold: Measure of a diagonal fold of skin and fat measured just above the crest of the hip

bone (iliac crest) along the midaxillary line

11. Iliac Crest Skinfold: Measure of horizontal or diagonal fold directly over the top of the iliac crest along

the side of the torso.

12. Other Less common skinfold measurement sites are chin, forearm, chest, knee, neck and lower back etc,

which are used for special health purposes or for athletes to monitor the local fat distribution in a particular

body part.

Data Collection

Generally, girls have more body fat than boys, especially during puberty and adolescence. Observing this fat is

essential for assessing the growth of girls and reducing the risk of any health issues that may arise due to

undernutrition and obesity during this period. To ensure that a smaller number of skinfold measurements

provides a reliable estimate of overall body fat, therefore biceps, Triceps, suprailiac, and Subscapular body

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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LATEST TECHNOLOGY IN ENGINEERING,

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ISSN 2278-2540 | DOI: 10.51583/IJLTEMAS | Volume XV, Issue I, January 2026

sites of measurement are chosen in participant girls (11). Data related to name, age, occupation of 106 girls of

the college situated at Mansa District, Punjab, India, was collected after interaction with them individually and

then the data related to weight, height, skinfold thickness at biceps, Triceps, suprailiac, and Subscapular

collected by measuring their physical parameters using standardised tools. The tools used to measure the

anthropometric parameters are; stadiometer for the measurement of the height of participants in centimeters,

weighing scale (digital) for the measurement of weight in kilograms and caliper has been used for obtaining

measurements of skinfold thickness in millimeter (14). The data so obtained is then transferred into

spreadsheets and the sum of skinfold thickness is computed by adding the skinfold thickness values (in mm)

measured at biceps, Triceps, suprailiac, and Subscapular sites of body.

Data Analysis and Result

The analysis of these measurements indicates that there is a wide variation in skinfold thickness among girls.

Skinfold at Triceps ranges from 7–40 mm, Biceps ranges from 6–30 mm, Subscapular ranges 6–40 mm and

Suprailiac ranges from 9–40 mm (15). Low values of skinfold indicate low fat stores or leanness and mid-

range values indicate normal fat or normal nutrition and high values indicate overnutrition or obesity. The

interpretation of the sum of skinfolds (SSF) measured at four body parts of girls provides information about

their nutritional status. SSF indicated the amount of subcutaneous fat stored under the skin, which is about 40-

60% of the total body fat. The higher the sum from the standard population, the more subcutaneous fat is

present in the body. Considering the internationally recognised anthropometric references based on Durnin &

Rahaman, Frisancho anthropometric reference values, International Body Composition (IBC) norms, and

WHO adolescent growth principles (16), the nutritional status of participating girls was categorised as per

Table-1.

Sum of Skinfold Measurements (mm)

< 60 mm

Female Nutritional Status

Malnutrition or Undernutrition

Normal Nutrition

60 mm - 100 mm

100 mm – 130 mm

> 130 mm

Obesity

High Obesity

Table-1: Nutritional Assessment using Skinfold anthropometric parameters

The body fat of girls assessed using the Sum of Skinfold thickness (SSF) has been interpreted using globally

accepted cut-off standards as shown in fig-1.Those with sum of skinfolds exceeding 100 mm are at risk for

higher adiposity and those with a sum of skinfolds below 60 mm are at prone to issues related to

undernutrition.

The nutritional classification based on Sum of Skinfold indicated that 54% of the participant girls had normal

fat levels, which is a sign of good nutritional health and 12.5% showed low fat, which implies undernutrition,

while 25% and 8.5% high and very high fat levels, respectively, highlighting a significant number with

excessive adiposity.

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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LATEST TECHNOLOGY IN ENGINEERING,

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ISSN 2278-2540 | DOI: 10.51583/IJLTEMAS | Volume XV, Issue I, January 2026

Fig-1: Nutritional Status of College Girls

Discussion: Interpretation of SSF-Based Nutritional Status Distribution

The nutritional status based on the Sum of Skinfolds (SSF) among the participants indicates that the largest

proportion, 54%, falls within the normal nutrition category, indicating that more than half of the participant

girls maintain an appropriate level of subcutaneous fat and are likely within a healthy nutritional range. This

suggests that, for most individuals, energy intake and fat reserves are adequate to support normal physiological

functions. Approximately 25% of the participants fall into the High Fat or obese range. This group of girls may

be at risk of progressing toward overnutrition or increased fat accumulation if lifestyle factors such as diet and

physical activity are not managed. Meanwhile, 8.5% girls have very high Fat, a group that may face health

issues, including early onset of obesity-related disorders such as metabolic imbalance, insulin resistance and

cardiovascular stress. On the other end of the spectrum, 12.5% of participants fall under the Low Fat category.

Individuals in this group may be susceptible to undernutrition or nutritional deficiencies, which can impair

immunity, hormonal balance, growth (in adolescents) and overall physical performance.

Overall, the distribution shows that while the majority of the group maintains a healthy fat level, a significant

portion exhibits deviations in both directions—either insufficient or excessive fat—highlighting the need for

targeted nutrition and lifestyle interventions for those outside the normal range.

CONCLUSION

The sample size limits generalizability, but the study demonstrates the nutrition status of college going girls

and the practical use of field-based skinfold assessment in identifying nutritional status variations among

young women. Skinfold measurements, an anthropometric parameter based assessment of nutritional status

reveal that while the majority of participant girls fall within the normal fat range, indicating generally adequate

nutritional health, a notable proportion display deviations that require attention. The presence of 12.5% with

low fat levels suggests individuals who may be experiencing undernutrition or low energy which affecting

growth, immunity and general health. At the same time, 33.5% of participant girls fall into the high or very

high fat categories, indicating an high risk of overnutrition and health concerns such as excess obesity and

metabolic strain(2). These findings underscore the importance of regular nutritional monitoring and

personalized interventions to address both undernutrition and overnutrition within the group. The study

highlights the need for balanced dietary intake and appropriate physical activity to maintain optimal body

composition and prevent long-term health complications in college girls.

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