Influence of Biological Maturation Status on Kinanthropometric Characteristics, Physical Fitness and Diet in Adolescent Male Handball Players

Abstract

The aims of this research were to analyze the differences in kinanthropometric characteristics and physical performance as a function of biological maturation, as well as to analyze these differences with the inclusion of the covariates age, maturity offset and diet, and to know how the players were classified according to BMI z-score. Seventy-three handball players (mean age: 14.17 ± 0.61) underwent a kinanthropometric assessment, physical performance tests and self-completed the KIDMED questionnaire. The sample was divided into three groups based on age at peak height velocity (APHV). Significant differences were found for basic measurements, BMI, BMI z-score, Cormic Index, muscle mass, medicine ball throw and SJ jump (p < 0.000–0.048), with early maturers having the highest values. All covariates included had a determinant influence on the kinanthropometric characteristics (p < 0.000–0.014), and both age and maturity offset showed significant differences in most physical tests (p < 0.000–0.033), so these covariates should be considered in evaluations to predict the future performance of players. Finally, significant differences were found between the biological maturation groups in the distribution of the BMI classification, with the normal-weight grade being the predominant one.

Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Its Influence on Anthropometric and Fitness Variables in High-Level Adolescent Athletes

“…This questionnaire has been validated to assess adolescents’ AMD [ 16 , 35 ]. In fact, it has been a commonly used questionnaire to assess AMD in trainee athletes [ 27 ]. The questionnaire consists of 16 dichotomous response questions (“yes”, “no”), with scores ranging from 0 to 1 point for items related to increased AMD, and −1 to 0 points for items that ask about the negative aspects of AMD [ 16 ].…”

“…The time was recorded in s. When the test was performed outdoors, wind speed was controlled by placing an anemometer Gill-compact (Gill Athletics, Champaign, IL, USA) halfway along the course, recording tests that were below 2 m per second in the direction of the run [ 53 ]. Two attempts were performed, with the final value being the maximum of both attempts, following the methodology from previous research [ 27 ].…”

“…Along these lines, different studies have analyzed the eating habits of young athletes in different sports disciplines, both individual [ 22 , 24 , 25 ] and collective [ 26 , 27 ], finding that even athletes have unhealthy eating habits, as they usually believe that it is enough to adjust their eating patterns in periods closest to training and competition [ 28 ]. Other studies have found that athletes’ eating habits were higher in terms of fat intake, but despite this, they maintained a normal body composition and blood lipid profile values [ 29 ].…”

Pattern of Consumption of Sports Supplements of Spanish Handball Players: Differences According to Gender and Competitive Level

“…Handball is a team sport that is characterized by interspersing high-intensity actions, such as sprints, throws, or changes in direction, with brief moments of low intensity that serve as recovery periods between these explosive actions [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. It is a complex, multifactorial and very demanding sport, in which players need to have an optimal physical preparation to achieve maximum performance in all of these actions [ 4 , 5 ].…”

Differences in Body Composition and Maturity Status in Young Male Volleyball Players of Different Levels

“…Sport is selective, chiefly during adolescence, and often occurs along a maturity-related gradient. Many studies have analyzed the influence of maturity status on physical, physiological, and performance characteristics in soccer, basketball, or handball players [13,14,[16][17][18][19], but less information exists on male volleyballers. Albaladejo-Saura and colleagues reported that volleyball players with a more advanced state of maturation exhibited higher values of height, arm span, sitting height, bone diameters, muscle perimeters and fat, muscle and bone masses, and better performance achieved in medicine ball throwing and in countermovement jump (CMJ) than their chronological age peers [20].…”