Objective   To study the trend and relationship between skinfold and salivary testosterone, estradiol levels of male and female children aged 10-12 with different body composition.

  Methods   Sxity-six boys and 75 girls aged 10 were divided into obese, median and thin groups observed 3 years and determined their skinfold and salivary testosterone, estradiol levels every year.

  Results   Obese boys and girls' triceps brachii skinfold decreased with age, median and thin groups of boys had no significant trend, but the girls' increased with age. Boy's subscapular angle skinfold had no significant trend with age, but the girls' increased except the obese group decreasing at 11.The testosterone and estradiol levels of boys and girls increased with age, and the boys' subscapular angle skinfold were correlated negatively with estradiol levels and the girls' triceps brachii and subscapular angle skinfold were correlated negatively with testosterone levels.

  Conclusion   The skinfold development trend of children aged 10-12 were different in sex and body composition; the skinfold development in different site had relationship with sexual hormone levels.