Assessment of body weight in 14-15-year-old children and differences in dominant side and explosive force of upper extremities

• Published in: Journal of Physical Education and Sport 2023-08, Vol.23 (8), p.2016-2022
• Main Authors: Gashi, Feim, Kovačič, Tine, Belaca, Visar, Gashi, Arbnore Ibrahimaj
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescents; Age groups; Aging (Individuals); Body Composition; Body mass index; Body Weight; Demographics; Females; Gender differences; Guardians; High school basketball; Influence; Males; Muscle strength; Muscular Strength; Obesity; Overweight; Physical Activities; Physical fitness; Physiology; Predictor Variables; Psychomotor Skills; Regression (Statistics); Regression analysis; Researchers; Rural Urban Differences; Sampling; Scientific Concepts; Selection Criteria; Software; Sports injuries; Statistical Analysis; Teenagers; Variables
• ISSN: 2247-8051; 2247-806X
• DOI: 10.7752/jpes.2023.08232

Introduction- Overweight and obesity serve as barriers for children to engage in physical activity at the same level as their normal-weight peers. Various physiological factors, including body mass index (BMI), have been observed to affect explosive strength across different demographics. In turn, these factors are influenced by other physiological variables. However, the determinants of explosive strength vary among different demographics. Methodology- This study included 76 participants aged 14 to 15 years from high schools in the territory of Pristina. Participants were selected using random sampling. Data regarding BMI, gender, and explosive strength were collected. The collected data underwent linear regression analysis using SPSS software to address the research objectives. Results- The sample comprised 31 males and 45 females. Mean gender differences yielded nonsignificant results (p = 0.108). The average age of males was slightly higher than that of females, but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.166). Additionally, there was no significant disparity in body weight between the two sexes (p = 0.066). No significant differences were found in the distribution of subjects by BMI and sex (p = 0.341). Conversely, the study revealed a significant correlation between the subjects' BMI and the strength of their hand muscles (p < 0.001), implying that a higher BMI is associated with greater hand muscle strength. However, the subjects' BMI was not significantly correlated with the explosive strength of the upper extremity (p = 0.127). Conclusion- This obtained results lead to the conclusion that the BMI of adolescents aged 14-15 years is not influenced by gender. While BMI has a significant impact on the muscle strength of both hands, it does not affect the explosive strength of the upper extremity in the study population.