Somatotype Differences between Mapuche and Non-Mapuche Children Aged 10 to 12 Years Living in the Province of Cautín-Araucanía

Abstract

The studies of the somatotype allow us to know the quantified description of the morphological configuration of the individual, through endomorphy, mesomorphy and ectomorphy. Due to the acquisition of new eating habits along with a greater sedentarism in the child and adolescent population, it has been speculated that they have generated modifications in the morpho functional structure. This therefore, has encouraged a study that allows to determine the difference between the somatotype of the Mapuche children and the non Mapuche that inhabit the Province of Cautín, IX region of Chile. The subjects who participated in this study were 350 healthy children with a mean age of 11±1 years of age, height of 140.5±4.7 cm and a weight of 39.5±5 kg. All anthropometric measures were based on the protocol of the International Society for the Development of Cineanthropometry (ISAK). According to somatotype calculations. The following classifications were present: Group 10 years old; Endomorph-mesomorph, 11 years, age group, endomorph-mesomorph, 12 years, age group, and mesomorph-endomorph. The results indicate that the 10-year-old Mapuche children had lower values of endomorphy and higher values for mesomorphy (p≤0.01) than non-Mapuche children. The 11-year-old Mapuche children had lower values of endomorphy and higher values for mesomorphy (p≤0.01), compared to non-Mapuche children. The 12-year-old Mapuche children had lower values of endomorphy and mesomorphy (p≤0.05) than non-Mapuche children. In conclusion, the Mapuche schoolchildren present a mesomorphic predominance, however, nonMapuche children present predominance of the endomorphic component.