Anthropometric Performance Research Articles

Relative Age Effect (RAE) According to Norm Values on Anthropometric Performance and Physical Fitness in 9–11-Year-Old Children

Objectives: The main purpose of this study is to identify the relative effect of age (RAE) according to norm values on the anthropometric performance and physical fitness of children between the ages of 9 and 11 years. The data, namely the percentiles of anthropometric parameters and physical fitness, are relevant for identifying the RAE in relation to gender and the month of birth in children. Methods: For the sample in this study, 1185 young people from Kosovo were enrolled, including 626 males and 559 females aged 9–11 years. The gathered data were assessed via the EUROFIT methodology, which takes into account comparisons based on the quartile of birth and the relative age effect (RAE). Results: The results of the data show us that there are significant differences in the RAE among children born in Q2 at the age of 9 years, especially in boys, as well as significant differences in the height variable at the <0.005 significance level. Others factors did not show significant differences, for example, variables that are indicators of physical fitness. For both boys and girls born in Q1, significant differences were mainly found in the indicators of explosive strength, flexibility, static strength, speed, and agility, with a level of significance of p < 0.001, while other indicators did not show significant differences. In addition, there was a significant difference the ratio between genders at the p < 0.001 and p < 0.005 levels, mainly among those born in Q1 and Q2. Similarly, at 10 years of age, children who were born earlier in the year had better scores, although the large disparities were more noticeable between quartiles than between genders, where the significant differences were mainly in the indicators of explosive strength, speed, and strength at the p < 0.001 level, as well as static strength, agility, and speed at the p < 0.005 level. Significant differences were also found for the indicators in terms of gender. At the age of 11, significant percentiles were mainly found in the quartiles at the beginning of the year for both boys and girls, and significant differences were also found at the p < 0.001 level for RAE between quartiles and gender. Conclusions: By using these data, it will be possible to highlight how males, who have demonstrated notable advantages in anthropometric and physical fitness measures, as well as those born in the first few months of the year, exhibit a relative age effect (RAE) in accordance with gender norm values.

The effect of constipation due to diseases of the colon on the anthropometric parameters of children

Anthropometric parameters of children under 18 years of age living in Fergana region were studied by age, sex and region. Using the data obtained, the anthropometric parameters of the children were analyzed. Constipation caused by various colon diseases common in children has been found to have a negative effect on children's anthropometric performance. The data obtained are compared to certain parts of the body (head, neck, chest, abdomen and pelvis, arms and legs) and growth or change is observed. Anthropometric data are used not only in medicine but also in criminology to describe and identify criminals.

Performance Changes in NBA Basketball Players Vary in Starters vs. Nonstarters Over a Competitive Season

The purpose of this study was to compare starters (S) with nonstarters (NS), on their ability to maintain strength, power, and quickness during a competitive National Basketball Association (NBA) season. Twelve NBA players were assessed at the beginning and end of the competitive season. However, because of trades and injury, only 7 (S = 4, NS = 3) players (28.2 ± 3.4 years; 200.9 ± 9.4 cm; 104.7 ± 13.9 kg; 7.2 ± 1.9% body fat) participated in both testing sessions and underwent analysis. Anthropometric performance (repetitive vertical jump power [VJP], squat power [SQT power], and reaction time) and subjective feelings of energy, focus, alertness, and fatigue were recorded during each testing session. Results were interpreted using magnitude-based statistics to make inferences on true differences between starters and nonstarters using the unequal variances t-statistic. Starters played an average of 27.8 ± 6.9 minutes per game and nonstarters played an average of 11.3 ± 7.0 minutes per game. During the course of the season, changes in VJP indicated that starters were likely to increase VJP (Δ = 77.3 ± 78.1 W) compared to nonstarters (Δ= -160.0 ± 151.0 W). There also appeared to be a possible beneficial effect on maintaining reaction time in starters (Δ = 0.005 ± 0.074 seconds) compared with nonstarters (Δ = 0.047 ± 0.073 seconds). In addition, no clear differences in ΔSQT power were seen between starters (Δ = 110.8 ± 141.4 W) and nonstarters (Δ = 143.5 ± 24.7 W). Changes in subjective feelings of energy indicated that starters were very likely to maintain their energy over the course of a season. It also appeared possible that starters were able to have a more positive response to subjective measures of fatigue and alertness than nonstarters, with only trivial differences between starters and nonstarters in regards to maintaining focus. Results of this study suggest that NBA players may enhance lower-body power, repetitive jump ability, and reaction during a competitive season, which appear to be enhanced with the stimulus of playing time.

Effects of protein level and type of heat treatment of milk formulas on growth and maturation of infants

Four formulas designed to provide two levels of protein density and sterilized by two different methods (autoclaved and flash sterilized) were assigned to four groups of 27 infants for consumption from birth to 16 weeks of life. In the flash sterilized formulas, corn oil replaced butter fat. The weight gain and anthropometric performance were not significantly different among the various groups. The cholesterol levels in infants receiving formulas with butter fat (autoclaved) were higher than those receiving formulas with corn oil (flash sterilized). Blood urea nitrogen was higher in the infants consuming high-protein formulas. Infants receiving high-protein formulas consumed more calories. The caloric and protein efficiency ratios of low-protein formulas were significantly higher than those of the high-protein formulas, as were the ratios of the low-protein flash sterilized milks in comparison with the low-protein autoclaved ones. This latter difference could be evidence of protein injury resulting from autoclaving in the lower protein formulas.