Somatotype and its association with body mass index, body fat, and muscle mass among adult male elite weightlifters of Merida, Mexico

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate somatotype and its association with body mass index (BMI), body fat (%), and muscle mass (%) among adult male elite weightlifters in Merida, Mexico. Methods: Eight elite male weightlifters, age ranged from 20-29 year were studied at Yucatan State Sports Institute of Mexico. Height, weight, skinfolds (biceps, triceps, subscapular, iliac crest, supraspinale, thigh, and calf), girths (mid-upper arm relaxed and flexed, mid-thigh, and calf) and breadths (humerus, femur) were recorded. BMI, body fat (%), muscle mass (%), and somatotype were estimated. Phantom Z-score values (Zp scores) were calculated to estimate similarity of body size and proportionality. Results: Average age of the participants was 25.80±1.6 years. Average endomorphic mesomorph somatotype (3.8-7.1-0.5) was observed in the present study. Endomorphy showed significant (p<0.05) correlation with BMI (r= 0.80), percent body fat (r= 0.98), and percent muscle mass (r= -0.91). Mesomorphy was significantly correlated with percent muscle mass (r= 0.65, p<0.05). BMI had correlation with percent body fat (r= 0.70, p<0.05) and percent muscle mass (r= -0.55, p>0.05). Simultaneous increase of body fat and muscle mass with the rise of body weight of the weightlifters were evident. Body weight, breadths and circumferences had positive Zp scores whereas skinfolds had negative Zp scores. Conclusions: Somatotype of elite weightlifters showed higher relative muscularity and lower body fatness. Somatotype was observed to be a reliable indicator to distinguish between body fatness and leanness.