Abstract:
Composition of the body changes with level of physical activity, gender
nutrition and genetic factors etc. It is important to understand these aspects
of human constitution as it shows relationships with disease conditions,
physical performance and behaviour. Somatotype is a measure of physique
of the body at present. Research has shown that this is a better indicator of
body composition than indicators such as body mass index. It quantifies and
categorise the present shape and composition of human body in to three
components namely endomorphy or the level of fatness, measomorphy or the
development of the musculoskeletal compartment and ectomorphy or the
linearity of the body. As such distribution of somatotype of a population
reflects the activity level, physical performance tendencies, disease
preponderance and predisposition. This study was carried out to verify the
distribution of somatotypes among a group of Sinhalese Medical students
who were not suffering from any chronic illnesses, not under medical
surveillance, haven‟t got any physical deformity. Consecutive sampling
helped to select 103 males and 97 females. Somatotype of this group was
determined according to the method described by J.E.L. Carter in 2002. The
age distribution of the study group was 20-26 years. Of the three somatotype
components studied, endomorphy was dominant among female students
whereas males had a physique with a balance in all three components.
Compared to evidence provided by previous studies, it is concluded that
body composition of females of this study reflects a low level of physical
activity. In relation to somatotype and individual anthropometric
measurements, a significant sexual dimorphism was demonstrated.