Heath-Carter Anthropometric Somatotype Research Articles

Relationship of incidence of anterior cruciate ligament injuries and body-built Index somatotype in Indian population

Background: Incidence of ACL injuries and physical parameters like age, sex, height, weight and BMI has been studied intensely as a risk factor. Each of them poses as a different risk factor for occurrence of ACL injuries. But body-built index-somatotype considers relative proportions of fatness, muscle mass and skeletal architecture in terms of endomorphy, mesomorphy and ectomorphy in a single individual which neutralises variables like age, sex, BMI. Methods: 100 patients were included in the study, excluding those with multiligament injuries, associated fractures around knee, mucoid degeneration of ACL and road traffic accident cases. Parameters such as skin fold thickness, circumference and epicondylar, condylar width was taken into consideration. Body built index was calculated in terms of endomorphy, mesomorphy and ectomorphy using the heath-carter anthropometric somatotype manual. Results: We found that amongst all those have ACL injury, endomorphy was higher grade (5.49), followed by mesomorphy (4.75). Lesser grades of ectomorphs i.e., slender people were having ACL injuries. Though there was low margin of grading between the two, endomorphy was higher in ACL injured people followed by mesomorphy. Conclusions: Endomorphs and mesomorphs have higher tendancy of ACL injury. Ectomorphs have lesser incidence of ACL injury.

Correlation Between Built and Work Ability among Small Scale Industrial Workers at Malkapur, Karad

Background: The working capability of workers has the effect on productivity of the industry. Work ability has the greater impact on employee’s well-being and decrease in the risk of musculoskeletal diseases, sick leave and early retirement. Further, a low work ability affects the company’s productivity. There is paucity in the literature regarding field of small scale industrial workers. Aim and objectives: To find the association between built and work ability among small scale industrial workers. Materials and Method: The total numbers of 90 workers were examined to assess built. The measurements were taken as per the Heath-Carter anthropometric somatotype method by using weighing scale for weight, stadiometer for height, measuring tape for girth around biceps and calf, small sliding caliper for width of the femur and humerus and skinfold caliper for skinfold thickness. After collecting data it was divided under three categories, Ectomorphic, Mesomorphic and Endomorphic built. Subjects signed the consent form and then work ability score was calculated by the workability questionnaire. Results: In this study both ectomorphic and mesomorphic showed negative correlation except endomorphic which showed positive correlation nearest to significance. There was no correlation between built and work ability. Study variables in this study such as age, gender and work ability revealed association with built. Thus , the present study concluded that there is no significant correlation between built and work ability Conclusion: On the basis of the result of the study, it was concluded that there is no correlation between built and work ability among small scale industrial workers working in industrial colony, Malkapur, Karad.. The ectomorphic and mesomorphic built has the very good work ability and there was medium work ability among endomorphic individuals.

VARIATION ON SOMATOTYPE AND WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE IN A SAMPLE OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS BETWEEN YEARS 2012 AND 2014 IN THE TEMUCO, CHILE

Objetive: to determine variation on somatotype and waist circumference (WC) in university students during a three-year follow-up. a total sample of 36 first-year university students was recruited in 2012. Heath-Carter anthropometric somatotype and waist circumference were assessed in 2012 and 2014. male students showed mesomorph component (3.7-5.3-1.8) as dominant in 2012, while in 2014 endomorph and mesomorph components were equal (4.1-4.5-1.6). The somatotype in female students was dominated by endomorphic component in 2012 (5.4-4.6-1.7) and 2014 (5.3-3.2-1.6). Among somatotypes, for both, male and female students, only endomorphy showed statistically significant differences during the follow-up (p = 0,00). The endo-mesomorphic somatotype was dominant in men with 61.9% in 2012 and 38.1% in 2014. Women showed a higher percentage for meso-endomorphic somatotype with 60% in 2012 and 80% in 2014. In men, WC between 2014 and 2014 showed a statistically significant increment of 4.8% (p = 0,00). In women WC increased by 13.3% but no statistically difference was observed (p = 0,10). this study showed somatotypic change with tendency in increased endomorphy in both men and women. Despite WC values were similar to the national mean, cases with cardiometabolic risk increased during the follow-up period based on this measurement.

Study on the adult physique with the Heath-Carter anthropometric somatotype in the Han of Xi’an, China

The study of somatotypes has important significance for medical and physical anthropology as well as sports science. The aim of this study was to understand the somatotype components of the Han population in Xi'an and compare the somatotypes of the Han and five other nationalities in China. The study sample consisted of 429 people of Han nationality (207 males, 222 females) from Xi'an, China, aged ≥20years old. The Heath-Carter anthropometric method was employed. We evaluated the differences in age and sex by one-way ANOVA and t test. A comparison of somatotypes between the Han and other nationalities was made using the U test. The results showed that the male and female samples all could be classified as having a mesomorphic endomorph profile. The difference in endomorphy was strongest between sexes in all age groups (P<0.01). There were prominent differences in mesomorphy and ectomorphy between males and females in the 50-59- and ≥60-year-old age groups. In females, the differences in somatotype components appeared to be distinguished between ages (P<0.01 or P<0.05). However, in males, there were prominent differences in somatotype components between the 20-29 year olds and all other age groups (P<0.01 or P<0.05) except for between those 20-29 and ≥60 years old in endomorphy. Compared with the other five nationalities, there were prominent differences in somatotype components between males and females. These results suggest that the somatotype of the Han population in Xi'an, China, has a predominantly mesomorphic endomorph profile. The endomorphic component shows distinct differences between ages and genders, respectively. Additionally, there are distinct differences in the somatotype components between Xi'an Han and five other nationalities in China in males and females.

Somatotype of top-level serbian rhythmic gymnasts.

Body size and build influence performance in many sports, especially in those belonging to the group of female aesthetic sports (rhythmic gymnastics, artistic gymnastics, and figure skating). These sports pose high specific demands upon the functional, energy, motor and psychological capacities of athletes, but also upon the size, body build and composition of the performers, particularly of the top-level female athletes. The study of the top athletes (rhythmic gymnasts, in this case) may provide valuable information on the morphological requirements for achieving success in this sport. Therefore, the main objective of this research was to analyze the somatotype of 40 Serbian top-level rhythmic gymnasts, aged 13.04±2.79, and to form the five age group categories. The anthropometric variables included body height, body mass, the selected diameters, girths and skinfolds, and the Heath-Carter anthropometric somatotype. All of the anthropometric data were collected according to International Biological Programme, and then processed in the Somatotype 1.2. The applied analysis of variance indicated an increase in endomorphic component with age. The obtained results show that the balanced ectomorph is a dominant somatotype, being similar for all of the athletes that took part in the research (3.54-3.24-4.5). These results are in line with the ones obtained in previous studies.

Changes in Somatic Parameters and Dynamic Balance in Female Rhythmic Gymnasts Over a Space of Two Years

Abstract Introduction. Body build and the ability to maintain balance play an important role in the development and improvement of specialised motor habits and complex technical elements necessary to achieve significant sporting results in rhythmic gymnastics. The aim of this study was to determine changes in the level of ability to maintain dynamic balance and in the construction of somatic young female rhythmic gymnasts during a period of two year training. Material and methods. The research material consisted of 13 girls. When the first measurements were taken gymnasts were aged 7 - 12 years. In the study we utilised posturography and the Heath-Carter Anthropometric Somatotype Method. The analysis of the study showed that there were statistically significant differences (p &lt;0.05) in the values of the dynamic balance indicators of the gymnasts' bodies in all three consecutive measurements over a course of years. Results and conclusions. It was noted that as the young gymnasts progressed in their training, their ability to maintain dynamic balanced increased. Based on the characteristics of the model, we developed an exemplary set of dynamic balance of rhythmic gymnasts. The somatotype of the tested athletes surveyed had been changing in the direction of increase in the proportion of components of endomorphy and mesomorphy. The balance ability of rhythmic gymnasts stabilised during their puberty associated with changes in body proportions ratio i.e.: height, weight and somatotype. The results and conclusions drawn can be an important part of selection and choice and can be used to control the dynamic balance in rhythmic gymnastics.

Somatotype characteristics of male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder and as such it no doubt affects the components of somatotype of diabetics. The aim of this study was to determine the somatotype of males with type 2 diabetes. In the study we assessed anthropometrically 169 male patients with type 2 diabetes. The patients were Bulgarian; they were allocated into two age groups: group 1 included 40-60-year-old patients and group 2--61-80-year olds. Healthy Bulgarian men without any history of metabolic, neoplastic, or other diseases were used as controls divided into age matched groups. Measurements obtained directly were height, body weight, biepicondylar breadth of humerus, biepicondylar breadth of femur, relaxed upper arm circumference, contracted upper arm circumference, forearm circumference, waist circumference, hip circumference, thigh circumference, calf circumference. Skin folds: subscapular, over rib 10, suprailiac, over abdomen, triceps, biceps, forearm, thigh, calf. Calculated parameters: Heath-Carter anthropometric somatotype components. Mean somatotype of 40-60-year-old male diabetics was endomorphic mesomorph (endo-mesomorph), (endo 5.03; meso 6.57; ecto 2.01). Mean somatotype 61-80-year-old diabetic males was endomorphic mesomorph (endo-mesomorph), (endo 4.14; meso 5.88; ecto 1.64). The between-age comparison showed the somatotype in both age groups of diabetic males to be endomorphic mesomorph. The mesomorphy was dominant, followed by endomorphy and ectomorphy was far behind. The differences in the ratings of the somatotype components were of high statistical significance (P < 0.001). The mesomorphy and endomorphy ratings in patients with type 2 diabetes aged 40-60 years were greater than those of patients aged 61-80 years with the difference reaching statistical significance (P < 0.001). Both age groups of male diabetics presented with endomorphic mesomorph somatotype. Mesomorphy was the highest, followed by endomorphy. Ectomorphy lagged substantially behind, leading to a shift in the somatoplot upward to mesomorphy and leftward to endomorphy. Unlike the findings of studies in foreign countries presenting markedly dominating endomorphy, in our study Bulgarian diabetic males presented with dominating mesomorphy. This can be regarded as a characteristic feature of Bulgarian diabetic patients. This could be accounted for by the role played by factors such as lifestyle, habits, environment, diet, methods of treatment, etc. The somatotype of Bulgarian diabetic males (endomorphic mesomorph) is more favourable with regard to the risk, course and prognosis of the disease.

El somatotipo de la voleibolista cubana de alto nivel de actuación: período 1992-2000

The specific aim of this study was twofold: first to establish reference data for team and game roles somatotype in Cuban female volleybal players, and to compare the characteristics among game roles. Forty three athletes were measured according to the Heath-Carter anthropometric somatotype method. The subjects had been playing volleyball for 10.9 years, on average and they were considered the base of the national preselections during the three Olympic Cycles (1988-1992, 1992-1996 and 1996-2000). They were divided into three groups: Centers, Spikers and Setters. Their average somatotype was, respectively: 2.8-3.2-3.5, 2.3-3.4-3.2 and 3.2-3.9-2.2. The somatotype was significantly different in players in different roles (p≤0.05). Setters were less homogeneous than those of other roles. Of the thirteen categories of somatotypes described, Cuban volleybal players showed eleven. Mesomphic-ectomorphic, balancedectomorphs, balanced-mesomorphs and ectomorphic-mesomorph were the most dominant categories.

Sex, Age and Caste Differences in Somatotypes of Rajput and Scheduled Caste Adolescents from the Sirmour District of Himachal Pradesh, India

Somatotypes of a cross-sectional sample of 544 rural adolescents ranging in age from 11 to 17 years are described. The sample included 269 Rajput (141 girls and 128 boys) and 275 Scheduled Caste (135 girls and 140 boys) subjects. Each subject was somatotyped using the Heath-Carter anthropometric somatotype protocol (Carter & Heath 1990). In all, ten anthropometric measurements namely height, weight, bicondylar diameters of humerus and femur, flexed mid-upper-arm and calf circumferences, and triceps, subscapular, supraspinale and calf skinfolds were taken. The mean somatotypes of the Rajput boys and girls were 1.62- 3.30-3.85 (mesomorphic-ectomorph) and 2.42-2.90-3.99 (balanced ectomorph), respectively. The mean somatotypes of the Scheduled Caste subjects were 1.51-3.02-3.74 (mesomorphic-ectomorph) for boys and 2.38-2.64-3.70 (balanced ectomorph) for girls. A one-way ANOVA revealed that females of both the caste groups were significantly (p < or = 0.05) more endomorphic than the males. The sex differences in other two components were not significant (p +/- 0.05). Caste differences, as revealed by a one-way ANOVA analysis, were not significant (p +/- 0.05) in both sexes. With the exception of the Rajput girls, the differences in whole somatotypes between those in an early phase of adolescence and those in an advanced phase of adolescence were not significant (p = 0.05). The results indicate that populations exposed to same environmental situations for a long period of time tend to show similarity in physique. A one-way MANOVA analysis, which used Wilk's Lambda as test statistics, revealed that from 11-17 years there was no significant change (p < or = 0.05) in component dominance of mean somatotypes in the boys and girls of the present sample. Among males of a majority of the Indian populations, ectomorphy dominates over endomorphy and mesomorphy from 11 to 17 years.

Somatotypic Variations: An Analysis of Some Traditional Occupations

Somatotype variations among adult men of Punjab belonging to four different Occupational Groups, viz., Tailors, Farmers, Carpenters and Blacksmiths have been investigated. A cross-sectional sample of 800 subjects (200 of each group) rangin g in age from 30-40 years, was measured from April, 2002 to January, 2004 from different areas of Punjab. The Heath-Carter Anthropometric Somatotype (1967) is 4.5-3.1-2.8 for Tailors, 4.0-3.4-2.8 for Carpenters and 4.5-3.3-2.9 for Blacksmiths thus pointing towards meso-endomorphic dominance of physique. Farmers represent central type of body physique with somatotype as 2.9-3.2-3.6. Musculo-skeletal development is more prominent in Carpenters whereas Tailors and Blacksmiths reflect relatively more amount of non essential fat. The Farmers physique is more diverse as reflected by the higher value of SDM which is 4.87±2. 81. Inter-Group differences for endomorphy component are found to be relatively more than those for ectomorphy and mesomorphy component of somatotype.

3차원 체형분석법(SAD)에 의한 체형 비교

The purpose of this study was to identify the best somatotype analysis method. For accomplishing this study, this study used 100 squash players (50 high level and 50 low level players) who participated in national squash tournament in 2001, 2002. Squash players were measure according to ISAK and Heath-Carter anthropometric somatotype method. Data were computed according to Carter`s instructions. SDD and SAD were also calculated using MS Excel for 2-dimension and 3-dimension somatotype analysis (Carter ＆ Heath, 1990). The result of this study as following; First, the overall somatotype component mean was 3.55, -3.01, 3.17 (Endomorphy, Mesomorphy, Ectomorphy). Second, when it comes to somatotype component compare, there were a significant differences (p.05) between high level and low level squash group. Third, there was a significant difference (p.05) using 2-dimension somatotype analysis. Third, there was a significant difference (p.05) using 3-dimension somatotype analysis. In conclusion, nevertheless, somatotype component comparative statistics should apply to non-parametric method, most research related to somatotype apply to parametric method such as ANOVA. There was no difference between component compare with misapplied ANOVA and somatotype analysis as a whole(3-dimension: SAD). Three-number component ratings lose some of their meaning. Therefore, 3-dimension method should attempt to treat the somatotype as a single entity, rather than using the separate components in analysis. Therefore, Compared method using SAD are the best way to interpret and judge somatotype.

Relationship between Somatotype and Blood Pressure in a Group of Institutionalized Venezuelan Elders

Background: Somatotype, as an indirect measure of estimating body composition, provides an easy and comprehensive picture of body shape. Multiple investigations have shown the existence of an association between somatotype components and cardiovascular disease. Objective: The aim of the present study was to examine the association of somatotype with blood pressure during ageing. Methods: The Heath-Carter anthropometric somatotype and both systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures were recorded. The sample included 809 healthy institutionalized elders (370 males and 439 females) from geriatric units in Caracas, Venezuela. Ages ranged from 60 to 102 years. Product-moment correlation coefficients between somatotype components and both blood pressure readings were calculated. Principal component analysis and homogeneity analysis by means of alternative least squares tests were also performed. Results: Females were more endomorphic and mesomorphic than males. Males were more ectomorphic than females. SBP showed a downward tendency with age in males, while in females the tendency was for the SBP to increase. Correlations among variables were from low to moderate and ranged from –0.37 to +0.34 in males, and from –0.18 to +0.32 in females. Correlations tended to be stronger in the younger age group and differences between sexes were found. A negative tendency in the correlation between ectomorphy and both SBP and DBP was found, except for the oldest age group, for which the correlation was positive. Endomorphy and mesomorphy showed a stable correlation pattern with blood pressure in males, while in females this pattern was more irregular and less consistent. Conclusion: Individuals with high levels of SBP and DBP had mean somatotypes, which were similar to those of other male groups characterized by myocardial infarct, coronary heart disease and the risk of hypertension, indicating that these somatotypes may be associated with cardiovascular risk factors. In particular, our results indicate that individuals who present a cardiovascular risk profile are more endomorphic and mesomorphic and less ectomorphic than those with a lower cardiovascular risk profile.

Somatotiperingsprofiele van manlike en vroulike Suid-Afrikaanse kruipslagswemmers

The first aim of this study was to determine the somatotype profiles of 16 South African male ( X =18.96±3.28 years) and 10 South African female swimmers ( X =17.00±2.34 years) who finished in the 10 top places in the different crawl stroke events at the South African Swimming Championships of 2001. The second aim of this study was to compare the somatotype profiles of South African swimmers with the profiles of 91 male ( X =21.30±3.01 years) and 64 female crawl swimmers ( X =19.6±29 years) who participated in the 1991 FINA World Championships of Swimming (Carter et al., 1994). The somatotype profiles of the swimmers were determined by making use of the Heath-Carter anthropometric somatotype method (Carter, 1996). The descriptive statistics were calculated, after which an independent test was used to determine the somatotype differences between the two groups of swimmers. The results showed that the male South African crawl swimmers had an average somatotype value of 2.2±0.6-4.4±0.9-3.3±1.0, compared with the international swimmers, who had an average value of 1.8±0.4-4.8±0.9-3.2±0.8. Endomorphy was the only variable that differed statistically significantly (p (S. African J. for Research in Sport, Physical Ed. and Recreation: 2002 24 (2): 1-12)

Somatotypes of Physical Education Students in Botswana

LANGUAGE NOTE | Document text in English; abstract also in Chinese.In the present study the somatotype characteristics of Physical Education students at the University of Botswana were evaluated. A second purpose of the study was to compare the physical characteristics of students across academic years of study. A total of 125 Physical Education students (52 males and 73 females) at the University of Botswana were measured. The students were attending certificate course, Diploma (year 1 and 2)，Bachelor's degree in Education (B. Ed) (year 1 to 4) in Physical Education. All the students were measured by one of the authors and their mean ages ranged from 23.8 to 28.6 years for males and 25.8 to 30.8 years for females. Anthropometric measurements were taken according to the protocol of the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK). These included body mass, stature, two breadths (humerus and femur), arm girths flexed and tense, calf girth and four skinfolds (triceps, subscapular, supraspinal and iliac crest). All the subjects were somatotyped using the Heath-Carter anthropometric somatotype method. Among the study group, the SAM values ranged from 1.2 to 2.1. The present sample is clustered in the mesomorph endomorph and mesomorphic endomorph categories with male students being more endomophic than female students. It is important in future studies to investigate the cultural diversity of the Botswana population as that might shed more light on the preponderance of endomorphy in the male group.本文旨在分析波斯尼亞大學體育本科生的體型結構，利用ISAK國際量度體型標準，量度了125名年齡由23至30歲學生的體型，結果顯示學生體型的分佈狀況，與文化背境的因素可能有關。

Muscularity and the density of the fat-free mass in athletes.

The purpose of this study was to use estimates of body composition from a four-component model to determine whether the density of the fat-free mass (D(FFM)) is affected by muscularity or musculoskeletal development in a heterogenous group of athletes and nonathletes. Measures of body density by hydrostatic weighing, body water by deuterium dilution, bone mineral by whole body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), total body skeletal muscle estimated from DXA, and musculoskeletal development as measured by the mesomorphy rating from the Heath-Carter anthropometric somatotype were obtained in 111 collegiate athletes (67 men and 44 women) and 61 nonathletes (24 men and 37 women). In the entire group, D(FFM) varied from 1.075 to 1.127 g/cm3 and was strongly related to the water and protein fractions of the fat-free mass (FFM; r = -0.96 and 0.89) and moderately related to the mineral fraction of the FFM (r = 0.65). Skeletal muscle (%FFM) varied from 40 to 68%, and mesomorphy varied from 1.6 to 9.6, but neither was significantly related to D(FFM) (r = 0.11 and -0.14) or to the difference between percent fat estimated from the four-component model and from densitometry (r = 0.09 and -0.16). We conclude that, in a heterogeneous group of young adult athletes and nonathletes, D(FFM) and the accuracy of estimates of body composition from body density using the Siri equation are not related to muscularity or musculoskeletal development. Athletes in selected sports may have systematic deviations in D(FFM) from the value of 1.1 g/cm3 assumed in the Siri equation, resulting in group mean errors in estimation of percent fat from densitometry of 2-5% body mass, but the cause of these deviations is complex and not simply a reflection of differences in muscularity or musculoskeletal development.

Familial resemblance for physique: heritabilities for somatotype components

Primary objective: To examine familial resemblance in the Heath-Carter anthropometric somatotype in a sample of 328 participants from 103 nuclear families in Northern Ontario (Canada). Methods and procedures: The three somatotype components (endomorphy, mesomorphy, ectomorphy) were subjected to principal components analysis and the resulting first principal component (PC1) was used as an additional index of physique. The four phenotypes were adjusted for age, sex and generation effects, while each of the three somatotype components was further adjusted for the effects of the other two components using regression procedures. A familial correlation model was fit to the data and used to estimate the degree of familial resemblance in somatotype. Main outcome and results: For all somatotype variables, the most parsimonious model was one in which there was no spouse resemblance and no sex or generation effects in the familial correlations. Maximal heritabilities were 56%, 68%, 56% and 64% for endomorphy, mesomorphy, ectomorphy and PC1, respectively, indicating significant familial resemblance for the Heath-Carter anthropometric somatotype. Further, the pattern of familial correlations suggests the role of genetic factors in explaining variation in human physique. Conclusions: In general, a pattern of no spouse but significant parent-child correlations implicates the role of genes on human physique, provided that mating is random with regard to these traits.

Physique, subcutaneous fat, adipose tissue distribution, and risk factors in the Québec Family Study.

To investigate the relationships among subcutaneous fatness, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) distribution, somatotype and risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD). The sample included 1410 (715 male and 695 female) youths and adults from the Quebec Family Study. Six skinfolds and the dimensions necessary for the derivation of the Heath-Carter anthropometric somatotype (endomorphy, mesomorphy, ectomorphy) were measured. The six skinfolds were summed to provide an index of subcutaneous adiposity (SUM). In addition, the trunk-to-extremity skinfold ratio, adjusted for SUM using regression procedures (TER), and the first principal component (PC1) of skinfold residuals (also adjusted for SUM) were used to indicate SAT distribution, independent of the overall level of fatness. Risk factors for CHD included systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and fasting glycaemia, triglycerides (TGs), plasma cholesterol, high and low density lipoprotein (HDL-C and LDL-C) cholesterol, and the HDL-C/total cholesterol (CHOL) ratio. In general, SUM was positively correlated with endomorphy and mesomorphy, and negatively correlated with ectomorphy. On the other hand, SAT distribution was not associated with somatotype, except in females where TER and PC1 were negatively correlated with mesomorphy. Results of forward stepwise regression analyses to predict CHD risk factors, indicated that a significant proportion of the variance in the risk factors could be accounted for by SUM, SAT distribution and somatotype (up to 16%). SUM is the best predictor, entering the regressions first (most important) in six of 15 significant regressions in males and 14 of 16 significant regressions in females. Somatotype components enter as predictors 10 times in males, and six times in females. Similarly, TER and PC1 enter as predictors nine times in males and five times in females. Somatotype is related to SUM, while somatotype and SAT distribution are largely independent of one another. Furthermore, SUM, somatotype and SAT distribution are significant predictors of biological risk factors for CHD.

Body size and physique among Canadians of First Nation and European ancestry.

The purpose of this study was to compare body size and physique among Canadians of Aboriginal (First Nation [FN]) and European ancestry (EA) from the northern Ontario communities of Temagami and Bear Island. The sample consisted of 130 FN and 494 EA participants including adults (20-75 years: 214 men, 234 women) and youth (5-19 years: 97 boys, 79 girls). Indicators of body size and physique included stature, the sitting height-to-stature ratio (SSR), body mass, BMI, estimated upper-arm muscle area, biacromial, bicristal, biepicondylar, and bicondylar breadths, and the Heath-Carter anthropometric somatotype (endomorphy, mesomorphy, and ectomorphy). There were few differences in body size between FN and EA, with the exception of adult females. Adult FN females were significantly heavier and had greater bone breadths than EA women (P < 0.001). On the other hand, somatotype differed significantly between EA and FN by age and sex, except for 5-19-year-old females. Among boys and men, FN had greater endomorphy (P < 0.03), whereas FN men also had lower ectomorphy (P < 0.01). Among women, FN were significantly more endomorphic and mesomorphic and less ectomorphic (P < 0.001). Although results for 5-19-year-old females were not significant, they were in the same direction as the other groups (greater endomorphy). Forward stepwise discriminant function analyses indicated that endomorphy was the most important discriminator between FN and EA by age and sex.

PHYSIQUE, MENARCHE AND TRAINING HISTORY IN ATHLETES WITH AND WITHOUT STRESS FRACTURES

1631 Physique, late age at menarche and early onset of training are indicated as risk factors, among others, for stress fractures (SF) in athletes. This study compares these risk factors in 30 university athletes in five sports (tennis[1], swimming [1], basketball [4], volleyball[5], track and field [18]) presenting SF, and in 290-307 athletes in the same sports without SF. Ages at menarche, at first participation in organized sport, and at specialization in the current sport were obtained with questionnaire and follow-up interview if necessary. Stature, mass, and the dimensions for estimating the Heath-Carter anthropometric somatotype and the androgyny index [AI = (3 X biacromial breadth) - bicristal breadth] were measured. All information was collected prior to the occurrence and diagnosis of the SF, early in the training season, as a part of the health and guidance services provided to all athletes. Data were not available for one runner, while age at menarche was lacking for another runner. The 29 athletes (22 White, 7 Black) with SF did not differ from athletes in the same sport without SF in ages at first organized sport participation and at specialized training in the current sport; 15 of 28 athletes with SF began specialized training in their respective sports after menarche. Mean age at menarche in athletes with SF was slightly but not significantly later (White, 14.3±1.3 yrs; Black 13.5±1.6 yrs) than athletes in the same sports without SF (White, 14.0±1.5 yrs; Black 13.2±1.6 yrs). Athletes with SF thus have a later age at menarche, but on average, they are not later compared to athletes in their respective sport event. In sports having several cases of SF, physique comparisons relative to athletes without SF indicated the following: basketball (4 White) - no consistent differences except for a higher AI in SF; volleyball (4 White) - SF overall physically larger, higher in mesomorphy and endomorphy, and a higher AI; distance runners (10 White) - SF higher in ectomorphy and lower mesomorphy, and a lower AI; sprinters (4 Black) - SF taller and heavier with a higher AI, but no differences in somatotype. Thus, if physique is a risk factor for SF, different physiques may be susceptible to SF in different sports.

Somatotype and indicators of metabolic fitness in youth.

The relationship between physique and metabolic fitness was examined in a sample of 413 boys and 343 girls 9-18 years of age from Phase I of the Québec Family Study. Physique was assessed using the Heath-Carter anthropometric somatotype. Indicators of metabolic fitness were plasma triglyceride levels (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and blood glucose levels (GLY). The sample was divided into three age groups, 9-12, 13-15, and 16-18 years of age. A partial canonical correlation analysis was used to quantify the relationship between the standardized somatotype and metabolic fitness variables (z-transformed) with age as the covariate. In both boys and girls the first canonical correlation is significant (P ⩽ 0.001) and indicates a relationship between the physique and metabolic fitness variables. By age group, the 16-18 year old boys, and the 9-12, 13-15, 16-18 year old girls demonstrate significant canonical correlations (P ⩽ 0.03). Overall, 8% to 19% of the variance in metabolic fitness can be explained by the Heath-Carter anthropometric somatotype. The makeup of the canonical variates is similar for all age groups. Generally, the physique domain is characterized by a positive loading for ectomorphy and negative loadings for endomorphy and mesomorphy. The metabolic fitness domain has a positive loading for HDL-C and negative loadings for TG, LDL-C, and GLY. The results suggest that in youth 9-18 years, a physique characterized by high endomorphy and mesomorphy is associated with higher levels of TG, LDL-C, and GLY, and lower levels of HDL-C. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 10:341-350, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.