Relative Variability in Body Dimensions of Punjabi Infants Longitudinally Examined during the First Year of Life

Abstract

Serial data depicting relative variability of sixteen (nine absolute and seven generated) body dimensions of 154 Punjabi infants from Chandigarh, India are presented. Coefficients of variation (CV) were computed for the body measurements at monthly age intervals so as to compare age to age variability encountered in different body dimensions during infancy. Summary coefficients were used for assessment of the magnitude of variability between different measurements. Comparison of data at different age periods showed least variability in values of head circumference in contrast to other body dimensions. Relatively higher values for variability were recorded for skinfold thicknesses. Log transformed skinfold measurements showed lower degree of variability in contrast to same untransformed measurements.