Sex-Based Differences in Body Composition Parameters Among 16-Year-Olds Using BIA

Abstract

This research analyzes the differences in body composition between adolescents aged 16 from Kosovo and the relationships between major anthropometric and physiological properties between boys and girls aged 16. In total, 84 females and 64 males were selected through a simple random sampling method to be part of the sample. Body composition was analyzed by performing a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) on each member of the sample, while the statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, normality testing, Pearson correlation analysis, and independent samples t-tests. Findings from this study revealed substantial differences between sexes, confirming results from studies conducted globally, with boys having greater levels of lean body mass, whereas girls had greater levels of bodily fatness. Through the correlation analysis, a distinct difference between fat-related variables (body fat percentage, BMI, visceral fat, and vitality) was established to form a single cluster of closely related variables, whereas lean body mass indicators (muscle mass, bone mass, and BMR) formed another cluster. In addition, the independent sample t-tests established that males and females differed significantly for all variables (except for vitality), indicating that the differences seen in the study support the expected differences in physical and physiological development by gender at age 16 based on studies on males and females in similar age groups conducted recently in other parts of the world.