[Public schoolstudents' body composition and motor performance]

Analysing the influence of body composition on female public school students' motor performance.

This was a cross-sectional study which involved a sample 371 female public school system students aged seven to 16 years old; they were placed ingroup 1 (G1), group 2 (G2) orgroup 3 (G3). Weight and height were measured for evaluating the body mass index (BMI), triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness for assessing the percentage of body fat (%BF).Sit and reach and 20 meters displacement speed tests were also used.

Significant differences were found regarding all anthropometric variables considered. It was found that 41.1% of the 371 female students were overweight or obese (66.1 % in G1, 34.5% in G2 and 25.3 % in G3). Regarding % BF, 29.1% of the students had percentages above suitable levels (23.3 % in G1, 23.8 % in G2 and 35.2 % in G3). Significant differences between G1 and G2 and between G2 and G3 were also found in the motor tests regarding the sit and reach test, as well as between G1 and G3 in the speed test.

Adiposity may have interfered with the students' motor performance, especially regarding the 20 meters' displacement speed test.