title: Anthropometric somatotype of Italian sport participants.
abstract: Somatotypes of 1593 young Italian sport participants (717 males and 876 females) were described and analyzed. The average somatotype for sport participants was 2.7-4.7-2.7 for males and 3.6-3.7-2.8 for females. The predominance of mesomorphy on the other two components was found in all sport-groups examined. This was particularly evident in males for gymnasts and rowers and in females for martial arts competitors. As for sexual dimorphism, females were endo-mesomorphs, while males were balanced mesomorphs. Somatotypes show statistically significant changes with the level of performance in some sport-groups with an increase in the mesomorphic component (in ballgames and martial arts) and in the endomorphic component (in swimming). Comparisons with other sport-groups from literature were greatly limited by several genetic and environmental factors.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Antropologia, Università degli Studi di Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gualdi-Russo
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Graziani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006173:Gymnastics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D016139:Martial Arts / Q000502:physiology; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D009132:Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D013008:Somatotypes / Q000502:physiology*; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology