Abstract

ackground: To analyze the skin folds that better predict body adiposity indicators in young Down syndrome (DS). Methods: A transversal (correlational) descriptive study was designed. 67 young people (33 women and 34 men) with DS from the province of Talca (Chile) were selected in a non-probabilistic manner for convenience. The age range varies between 10 and 25 years. The weight, height, circumference of the waist, hip and five skin folds (bicipital, tricipital, subscapular, suprailiac and thigh) were evaluated. The body mass index (BMI) and the waist-hip index (BCI) were calculated. Results: In men, both in adolescents, and in young adults, waist circumference and hip circumference explained between 30 to 62%, while in adolescent women the circumference of the hip predicted adiposity in 19%, and in adult women the ICC explains 12%. The BMI in both sexes and groups (adolescents and adults) showed R2 values lower than the other indicators (R2 = 0.09 to 16%). Conclusion: Hip circumference and waist circumference should be used to assess body adiposity in adolescent males and young adults with DS, while in adolescent females, only hip circumference showed to be a predictor of bodily adiposity and the ICC in adult women.