5. Original Scientific Paper
Abstract

The pattern of velocity growth of triceps, sub-scapular, biceps, mid-axillary and anterior thigh skinfold thickness (SFT) was studied amongst full-term, small for gestational age (SGA); 100 symmetric SGA and 100 asymmetric SGA infants. One hundred appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants served as controls. All babies were measured at 1, 3, 6, 9 & 12 months in Growth Clinic/Laboratory of Advanced Pediatrics Center, PGIMER, Chandigarh. Ponderal Index (PI) was used to categorize SGA babies into symmetric SGA (PI≥2.2g/cm3 ) and asymmetric SGA (PI<2.2 g/cm3 ). Mean (SD) growth velocities for each skinfold thickness at every age was computed using Tanner’s 1951 method. Intra-group (symmetric vs. asymmetric), inter-group (SGA vs. AGA) and gender differences were quantified using Mann-Whitney-U test. Growth velocity amongst both male and female symmetric and asymmetric SGA as well as AGA infants showed sharp increase between 1-3 months whereafter, it declined. The higher rate of growth for all skinfold thicknesses recorded amongst symmetric and asymmetric SGA infants of the two sexes as compared to their AGA counterparts confirm a tendency of SGA babies to accumulate more fat than the latter during infancy. Relatively, greater rate of sub-cutaneous tissue accumulation for different skinfolds in symmetric SGA than the asymmetric ones suggests that symmetric infants may become overweight/obese, beyond infancy

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