Composición corporal, alimentación, actividad y condición física en estudiantes universitarios

Abstract

The assessment of body composition in university athletes is a fundamental element for improving sports performance. The Body Fat Distribution Index (IDGC) is an under-researched anthropometric indicator that may be useful for identifying body fat distribution when bioimpedance machines are unavailable in institutions. This study aims to assess the body composition of physically active and sedentary students through anthropometry (IDGC) as an alternative to electrical bioimpedance and to examine its relationship with diet, physical activity, and physical condition. Sixty-six university students, healthy women and men over the age of 18, were included. Anthropometric measurements were applied to calculate the IDGC and body fat, considering four skinfolds and two circumferences. Weight, total body fat percentage and fat by segments, muscle mass, and water content were evaluated with an eight-electrode bioimpedance machine. The measurements were taken at a single time point, and a comparison was made between both techniques and groups. Subsequently, an association was made between the IDGC and some measured variables. The data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics 21.0, applying independent samples t-tests and Mann-Whitney U tests to identify differences between groups, and Spearman's test to measure variable correlations, using a significance level of 0.05. A strong positive correlation was found between IDGC and bioimpedance as a method for determining body fat distribution. The most significant differences between physically active and sedentary students were identified in IDGC, MET, endurance, and strength.