Somatotypes of schoolchildren from Chile: higher endomorphic components among adolescent girls.

OBJECTIVE: this investigation describes the somatotype components and somatotype as a whole in Chilean children and adolescents. METHODS: a cross-sectional study was conducted in Valparaiso, Chile. The somatotypes of 1,409 schoolchildren (747 males) aged 6 to 18 yearswere assessed using the Heath-Carter anthropometric method. Comparative category analyses (endomorph, mesomorph, and ectomorph) were performed using t-tests. To analyze whole somatotypes along two and three dimensions, the somatotype dispersion mean (SDM) and somatotype attitudinal mean (SAM), respectively, were used in addition to a somatochart representation. RESULTS: the somatotype of the male sample showed a marked mesomorph-endomorph biotype (4.9-4.8-2.1), whereas that for the female sample showed a mesomorphic endomorph classification (5.8-4.3-1.8). The samples differed significantly by sex, with an increased endomorphic component observed in females aged 13 to 18 years old. These sex differences were primarily evident in adolescents with high somatotype values in two or three dimensions (SDM ≥ 3.0; SAM ≥ 1.2), indicating high between-group dispersion. The somatocharts showed displacement of the endomorphic components for both sexes, particularly females. CONCLUSIONS: the results provide strong evidence that biotype changes have increased, primarily in terms of relative adiposity (i.e., the endomorphiccomponent) and predominantly in adolescent girls.

Somatotypes of schoolchildren from chile: higher endomorphic components among adolescent girls / El somatotipo de escolares chilenos: altos componentes endomórfi cos en mujeres adolescentes

Objective: this investigation describes the somatotype components and somatotype as a whole in Chilean children and adolescents. Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted in Valparaiso, Chile. The somatotypes of 1,409 schoolchildren (747 males) aged 6 to 18 years were assessed using the Heath-Carter anthropometric method. Comparative category analyses (endomorph, mesomorph, and ectomorph) were performed using t-tests. To analyze whole somatotypes along two and three dimensions, the somatotype dispersion mean (SDM) and somatotype attitudinal mean (SAM), respectively, were used in addition to a somatochart representation. Results: the somatotype of the male sample showed a marked mesomorph-endomorph biotype (4.9-4.8-2.1), whereas that for the female sample showed a mesomorphic endomorph classification (5.8-4.3-1.8). The samples differed significantly by sex, with an increased endomorphic component observed in females aged 13 to 18 years old. These sex differences were primarily evident in adolescents with high somatotype values in two or three dimensions (SDM ≥ 3.0; SAM ≥ 1.2), indicating high between-group dispersion. The somatocharts showed displacement of the endomorphic components for both sexes, particularly females. Conclusions: the results provide strong evidence that biotype changes have increased, primarily in terms of relative adiposity (i.e., the endomorphic component) and predominantly in adolescent girls

Objetivo: esta investigación tiene por objetivo describir los componentes del somatotipo en niños y adolescentes chilenos. Métodos: se realizo un estudio transversal en la región de Valparaiso, Chile. Se evaluó el somatotipo de 1.409 escolares (747 hombres) de 6 a 18 anos de edad utilizando el método antropometrico de Heath-Carter. Los análisis comparativos por componentes (endomorfia, mesomorfia y ectomorfia) fueron realizados mediante pruebas t. Para analizar el somatotipo como un todo se realizó el cálculo en dos y tres dimensiones, se utilizaron la distancia de dispersión del somatotipo medio (DSM) y la dispersión morfogenica media (DMM) respectivamente, además de una representación en la somatocarta. Resultados: el somatotipo de la muestra masculina mostro un marcado biotipo mesomorfo-endomorfo (4,9-4,8-2,1), mientras que el de la muestra femenina mostro una clasificación meso-endomorfica (5,8-4,3-1,8). Las muestras difirieron significativamente según sexo, con un elevado componente endomorfico observado en mujeres de 13 a 18 años de edad. Estas diferencias en adolescentes por sexo tambien fueron observadas en el análisis del somatotipo en dos y tres dimensiones (DSM ≥ 3,0, DMM ≥ 1,2), lo que indica una alta dispersión entre grupos. Además, las somatocartas mostraron un desplazamiento hacia componentes endomorficos para ambos sexos, principalmente en mujeres. Conclusiones: los resultados proporcionan una fuerte evidencia de que los cambios en los biotipos han aumentado, principalmente en términos de adiposidad relativa (componente endomorfico) y predominantemente en adolescentes mujeres