Triceps skinfold thickness (TSF)— Subcutaneous fat accounts for about 50 percent of the body fat stores and accurately reflects the total body fat content, measured with a large skinfold caliper while the patient is standing or sitting with the right arm hanging loosely at the side, just below the midpoint between acromial and olecranon processes. If below 10th percentile or a visible loss of subcutaneous tissue on physical examination indicates fat store depletion. N=(M: 18.7+_8.5mm, F=23.6+_7.5mm)
Mid-arm muscle circumference (MAC)—
Skeletal muscle represents 60% of total body protein and in times of stress and starvation it is assessed by visual inspection and measuring mid-arm muscle circumference at the same level as the triceps skin fold thickness. If below the tenth percentile is considered clinically significant (N⇒ 23cm)
