Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

upper arm circumference 307
LUNGS, raising the risk for atherosclerosis and CAD
with prolonged use. As well, smokeless tobacco
contains carcinogens that release into the mouth
and is the leading cause of oral cancers. Doctors
diagnose 30,000 people with oral cancers due to
smokeless tobacco use each year in the United
States; about 8,000 Americans die each year from
such oral cancers.
CARCINOGENS IN SMOKELESS TOBACCO
acetaldehyde
arsenic
benzopyrene
cadmium
crotonaldehyde
formaldehyde
hydrazine
nitrosamine acids
polonium-210 (radon)
tobacco-specific
volatile aldehydes
nitrosamines (TSNAs)
volatile nitrosamines
See also CARCINOGEN; HALITOSIS; SMOKING
AND
CANCER; SMOKING AND HEALTH; SMOKING CESSATION.
triceps skinfold A measure of the thickness of a
fold of SKIN at the triceps (MUSCLE at the back of
the upper arm), which indicates BODY FAT PERCENT-
AGE. Triceps skinfold thickness is easy for doctors,
nutritionists, and fitness professionals to measure
as a means of monitoring loss of body fat. A tensioned
caliper, placed over a segment of pinched
skin at the triceps, measure the skinfold thickness
in millimeters. The thickness value corresponds
roughly to the body fat percentage. For example, a
triceps skinfold measurement of 10 millimeters
(mm) corresponds to approximately 10 percent
body fat; of 35 mm to approximately 35 percent
body fat. The triceps skinfold measurement may
also serve as an indicator for adequate nutrition in
infants and young children, with less than 5 mm
(5 percent body fat) indicating insufficient nutrition.
See also BODY MASS INDEX (BMI); UPPER ARM CIR-
CUMFERENCE; WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE; WAIST TO HIP
RATIO.
upper arm circumference A measurement of
the distance around the center of the upper arm,
which serves as an approximate measure of LEAN
MUSCLE MASS. Upper arm circumference, also called
mid-upper arm circumference (MUCA), is one
method to estimate appropriate nutrition. The
muscles store protein, thus measuring the size of
muscles provides an approximation of the body’s
protein supply. In undernutrition and MALNUTRI-
TION MUSCLE size shrinks because the body metabolizes
protein stores to generate energy.
Overnutrition (overweight and OBESITY) results in
exaggerated muscle size as a consequence of high
amounts of fat in the muscle fibers. RESISTANCE
EXERCISE such as weightlifting enlarges the upper
arm muscles, which can make upper arm measurement
less accurate as an assessment of lean
muscle mass.
UPPER ARM CIRCUMFERENCE AND HEALTH
Measurement
Health Risk Correlation
(centimeters)
25 OBESITY, significant health risk
See also BODY MASS INDEX (BMI); TRICEPS SKIN
FOLD; WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE; WAIST TO HIP RATIO;
WEIGHT LOSS AND WEIGHT MANAGEMENT.