Análisis del IMC y somatotipo en una muestra de adolescentes con sobrepeso y obesidad en Temuco-Chile

Abstract

Overweight and obesity in Chile have become an epidemic which exceeds all social sectors. The main factors have been the change in lifestyle, economy, sedentary and genetic. The purpose of this study was analysing the BMI and Somatotype in a sample of overweight and obese adolescents in Temuco city. 50 adolescents were assessed, both sexs (19 men and 31 women) between 14 and 16 years old belonging to subsidized schools of Temuco city, IX Region of Chile. The adolescents were evaluated on their schools. To obtain the somatotype the anthropometric of Heath & Carter method was used, classifying BMI according to the WHO norms. Women were more endomorphofic than men, this difference was statistically significant. The mesomorphic and ectomorphic component didn't show statistically significant differences between sexes. The BMI value showed an average of 27.8; the minimum value was 23 and the maximum value was 35, the mode was 30.6. The sample presented a prevalence of the endomorphofic component. These results show the existence of a great amount of adipose tissue within adolescents. Then, they were more overweight and obese. These factors are due to the lack of physical activity, change in food habit, and different other reasons; such as, obese parents, genetics, etc.