[Studies on the obesity of Hawaii- and Amami-born Japanese children]

Carrying out a somatotype comparison of both, by using data of anthropometry of Hawaii-born Japanese Children (Hawaii-Children) and Amami-born Japanese Children (Amami-Children) that were carried out in 1977-78 a study with regard to the determination of obesity was carried out. The result that compared a somatotype was as follows. 1. The height of hawaii-Children was almost higher than that of Amami-Children. 2. A body weight was almost the same. 3. Trunk length of Amami-Children was longer than that of Hawaii-Children. 4. Lower limb length of Hawaii-Children was bigger than that of Amami-Children a little. 5. The letio of Rohrer index of Amami-Children was greater than that of Hawaii-Children. Therefore, it is determined that Amami-Children were obesity even from Hawaii-Children. when obesity index is judged from the ratio of the height to body weight. As for skin-fold thicknesses (amount of subcutaneous fat), Hawaii-Children is showing a high value more always than Amami-Children and Hawaii-Children is obesity obviously. Although the measurement result of Rohrer index and skin-fold thicknesses are contradicting this cause is because it differs with both trunk length and Lower limb length. Considering those result, it became obvious that a obesity index calculated from the height and body weight does not show fat volume inside a body precisely. The measurement of amount of subcutaneous fat needs to be carried out to check real obesity. Also, it is important to carry out the measurement of trunk length and Lower limb length in addition to the height and a body weight at least, to know a obesity.