Age-related features of somatometric parameters of Yakut men according to Heath–Carter

Abstract

The aim of the study was to identify the features of the somatometric parameters of Yakut men in the youthful and second period of adulthood according to Heath–Carter.Material and methods. 167 young men and 41 men of the second period of mature age of the Yakut nationality were examined. The examination included anthropometric measurements and bioimpedance analysis of the body BMI and waist-to-hip ratio were calculated. Somatotyping according to Heath–Carter was carried out on the basis of ecto-, meso- and endomorphic scores, which are included in the bioimpedancemetry protocol. Statistical processing of the obtained data was carried out using the SPSS 17.0 application package. The normality of the distribution of parameters was determined by the Kolmogorov–Smirnov criterion. Mean (M) and standard deviation (SD) were calculated, and intergroup differences were assessed using Student's t-test.Results. The study revealed age differences in terms of length, weight and body composition. Significantly large values of body length, relative parameters of skeletal muscle mass and active cell mass were found in young men. Mature men had significantly higher body weight values, absolute and relative indicators of fat mass, absolute values of active cell mass. According to BMI, overweight was detected in 6.6%, obesity - in 3.0% of young men. Among men of mature age, overweight was determined in 54.2%, obesity - in 27.0%. A high index of the ratio of waist circumference to hip circumference was found in 4.8% of boys and 58.5% of men. The distribution of somatotypes according to Heath-Carter revealed that young men in 100% of cases had a mesectomorphic somatotype. In mature men, the mesectomorphic type was also the predominant somatotype (95.8%). In 4.2% of men of mature age, a balanced ectomorphic type was determined. The absence of variability in body types suggests that the mesectomorphic somatotype is the most adapted to living in the extreme natural and climatic conditions of Yakutia.