Differences in the mean fat cell diameter of males between 1 and 48 months of age

The mean fat cell diameter was determined from measurements of abdominal adipose cells, obtained during inguinal hernia repair, of 126 white and 95 black males ranging in age from 1 through 48 months of age. The mean diameters of black and white subjects did not differ significantly, suggesting that differences in fatness among adults of these two ethnic groups have their origin beyond the age range of this study. The mean fat cell diameter increased through the 6-8 month age group, decreased until the end of the first year, and then levelled off through 48 months of age. Comparison of this curve with those for the triceps, subscapular, abdominal, and suprailiac skinfolds of the same subjects showed generally parallel courses except for the triceps, which continued to increase in size after the means of fat cell diameters and the other skinfolds had levelled off. Our data indicate that changes in body fatness on the trunk at least in the first 4 years of life may be accounted for by changes in fat cell size.