BIOIMPEDANCE BODY COMPOSITION ANALYSIS IN ASSESSING PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT IN SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

Abstract

Aim. This study investigates the role of bioimpedance body composition analysis in assessing physical development in secondary school students. Materials and methods. Our sample involved 165 female and 170 male participants, divided into the following age subgroups: 7–10 years (n = 113); 11–14 years (n = 119); 15–18 years (n = 103). Bioimpedance analysis was combined with standard anthropometric measurements (body length SDS, BMI SDS). Results. Our findings revealed significant gender differences in fat mass (FM) and skeletal muscle mass (SMM). Among adolescent girls compared to boys, normal BMI SDS values were recorded 1.4 times more frequently, while obesity was observed 6.1 times less frequently. At the age of 7–10 years, low FM percentage values were recorded 1.9 times less frequently in girls. In contrast, at the age of 11–14 years, high FM percentage values were observed 2.2 times more frequently in girls. With age, the number of cases with low SMM percentage increased 7.5 times in boys against the backdrop of a 2-fold increase in high FM percentage values. From the age of 12 years, there is a decrease in SMM percentage in boys concurrent with an increase in FM percentage against the backdrop of no change in BMI SDS. For children and adolescents of both sexes, a positive relationship between BMI SDS and FM percentage was recorded, as well as a negative relationship between age and SMM percentage. For males, a direct relationship was observed between age and FM percentage. Conclusion. These findings underscore the importance of bioimpedance analysis in medical and preventive healthcare practices.