Height, body composition, biological maturation and training in relation to socio-economic status in girl gymnasts, swimmers, and controls.

ABSTRACT

This study examined the height, body composition, prevalence of obesity, biological maturation and training in relation to socio-economic status of 78 female gymnasts (age 138 +/- 18 months), 52 girl swimmers (age 134 +/- 24 months) and 116 control girls (age 131 +/- 21 months). The female gymnasts are shorter and lighter than girl swimmers. They are also shorter than control girls comparing the growth percentiles. The weight to height ratio (w/h) and the Quetelet index are the same for the groups. The female gymnasts have less fat, and a later biological maturation than girl swimmers and controls. The socio-economic status of girl swimmers is lower than that of the control group. Nevertheless the girl swimmers are taller and they have the same biological maturation as the controls. The girl swimmers are even more matured than the gymnasts. The gymnasts have the same socio-economic status as the controls, but they are shorter and less matured. Therefore, in the investigated groups no positive relationship between height and socio-economic status exists. Nor is a low socio-economic status accompanied by a late biological maturation or a higher prevalence of obesity. Training did not correlate with socio-economic status in gymnasts or controls, only in the swimming group a weak correlation was found.