SOMATOTYPE OF MACEDONIAN ADOLESCENTS AGED 11 TO 14 YEARS

Abstract

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Aim. The aim of this study was to evaluate sex and age-specific differences of somatotype in adolescents aged 11 to 14 years of Macedonian nationality. Material and Methods. This study included 873 adolescent students (453 males and 420 females) at the age of 11 to 14 years from three urban cities in Republic of Macedonia (Skopje, Kumanovo and Strumica). Ten anthropometric parameters: body height, weight, elbow and knee diameter, triceps, subscapular, supraspinale and calf skinfold, arm and calf circumferences were measured using standard equipment and measurement technique to assess the somatotype according to Heat-Carter somatotyping method. For evaluation of somatotype software package Somatotype-Calculation and Analysis was used. Testing of sex and age-specific differences was done with analysis of variance. Differences for p<0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. Results and Discussion. At the age of 11 and 12 years in both males and females dominate two somatotypes: mesomorph endomorh and balanced ectomorph. Sex-specific differences were found for endomorph component at the age of 14 years in favour of females, and for mesomorph component at the age of 14 years in favour of males. Age differences were found only in males at the age of 12 years. Conclusions. There are sex and age differences of somatotypes in Macedonian adolescent population after the age of 13 years. The obtained values can be recommended for practical use for better understanding of changes in body composition and sex differences in somatotypes.