Modeling stability in the somatotype of children and youngsters from 10 to 16 years of the Madeira gro

Abstract

This investigation aims at the study of somatotype´s (tri-dimensional structure) stability in children and youngsters from Madeira (Portugal). Based on a stratified and proportional sample and from a mixed-longitudinal study, we obtained information from 309 subjects (157 boys, 152 girls) that participed in ‘Madeira Growth Study’. Somatotype was estimated with the Heath-Carter method, and statistical analysis was based on quasi-simplex models to optimize the multivariate data structure. Mplus was used in all calculations. Results from fitting models to the multidimensional nature of the data have shown that somatotype is strongly stable over the age range of 10 to 16 years. This characteristic highlights its reduced capability to change, and thus inform us about its prediction.