Age-related variations in somatotype: a study on older adults in Türkiye

This study aims to investigate the age and sex-related variations in somatotype among older adults in Türkiye using the Heath-Carter method. Anthropometric measurements were taken from 2128 participants (1,009 males and 1119 females) aged 65 and over, selected through stratified sampling from the seven regions of Türkiye. The findings indicated that the most prevalent somatotype in both sexes was Endo-Mesomorph, accounting for 50% of males and 58.1% of females. With advancing age, a decrease was observed in body weight, height, Body Mass Index (BMI), and body fat percentage in both sexes. Age-related remodeling of body composition was further reflected in somatotype patterns: while endomorphy declined in males, both endomorphy and mesomorphy decreased progressively in females. Across all age groups, mesomorphy remained more dominant than endomorphy, suggesting relative preservation of muscularity. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the Endo-Mesomorph somatotype is predominant among older adults in Türkiye, with notable age- and sex-related differences: age-related changes include a decline in endomorphy in males, while both endomorphy and mesomorphy decrease in females. These results offer new evidence from a large Turkish cohort and align with international findings on age-related body composition remodeling, supporting the development of tailored, culturally relevant interventions for healthy aging.