Studies on physique of male athletic university students in comparison with nonathletic university students and methods for assessment of physique

Abstract

Anthropometric measurements were obtained on 126 male nonathletic first year university students (N-1), 178 male nonathletic third year university students (N-3) and 114 male athletic third year university students (A. The mean values of height and body weight for group A were significantly larger than those for groups N-1 and N-3. Group A showed significant larger mean values of girth of chest, abdomen, thigh and upper arm than groups N-1 and N-3. Physical status of group N-1 was a little shorter and slender than that of group N-3. Group A showed significantly greater mean values of Rohrer's index and Brugsch's index than groups N-1 and N-3. The mean values of skinfold thickness and body fat (%) caluculated by using prediction formula from mean skinfold thickness for group A were significantly smaller than those for group N-3 and were essentially the same as those for group N-1. Bigger physique and smaller body fat content of athletes could be explained as due to a result of physical training and might be considered as the cause of superior physical fitness of athletes. The following prediction equations for standard body weight (W) from height (H) using mean values of body weight and height ([formula omitted] and [formula omitted]) and their standard deviations (σW and σH) are proposed for the evaluation of overweight and underweight. [formula omitted] Plotting of body weight and body fat content in standard measure against height in standard measure was used to compare physical characteristics of athletes with those of nonathletes. © 1979, The Japanese Society of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine. All rights reserved.