Anthropometric characteristics of brazilian young swimmers in different competitive categories

Abstract

The objective of this study was to establish the profi le as well as the differences in anthropometric characteristics of Brazilian young swimmers of different categories in both sexes. Ninety male and 70 female swimmers were measured in the following categories: 1 (12-13 years), 2 (14-15 years) and 3 (16-18 years). Anthropometric variables analyzed were: body mass (Kg), stature (m), BMI (Kg/m2), fat free mass (LBM, kg), fat mass (kg) and arm span (m). The percent of body fat (% fat) was estimated using the Lohman equation. Two-way ANOVA was used followed by the Tukey’s post-hoc test, with p< 0.05. For males, the category 3 presented higher body mass, stature, arm span and LBM in relation to the other categories. For females, body mass was higher in category 3 when compared to categories 1 and 2. It was observed higher stature, arm span, LBM and fat mass for category 3 when compared to 1. Category 2 presented higher body mass and LBM than category 1. Comparing to girls, boys in the category 2 had higher BMI and LBM than girls. For both categories 2 and 3, males showed higher body mass, stature, arm span and LBM than females, which, in turn, had higher % fat. It was concluded that anthropometric variables are different between categories for both sexes, however, among girls differences between categories 1 and 2 were less evident, probably because of early maturation changes in females.