Skinfold thicknesses, Quetelet index and waist-to-hip circumference ratio (WHR) were measured in 2285 Dutch children aged 0-17 years. Skinfold thicknesses, Quetelet index and WHR were significantly influenced by age. No significant differences were found between the sexes in Quetelet index. Skinfolds were generally higher in older girls compared to older boys. WHR and the trunk-to-total skinfolds percentage were used as possible indicators of body fat distribution. On average, boys had higher WHR and trunk-to-total skinfolds percentage than girls, especially in the older age groups. The WHR decreased from about 1.1 in the youngest children to about 0.8 in pubertal children. The trunk-to-total skinfolds percentage increased from about 42 per cent in both sexes at younger ages to about 60 per cent in pubertal boys and to about 52 per cent in pubertal girls. Several correlations were calculated controlled for age. Low but significant correlations were found between WHR and skinfold thicknesses or the Quetelet index. WHR was strongly inversely related to body height. In girls 58 per cent of the variation in skinfold thicknesses was associated with the Quetelet index, in boys this was 42 per cent. The prevalence of obesity in the studied population varied between 0.5 and 10 per cent according to the reference standard chosen to assess obesity. It is concluded that more research is necessary to assess whether the WHR in children is a valid indicator of body fat distribution, especially in prepubertal children. It is also concluded that more research is needed to develop a method for assessing childhood obesity in an objective way.