Keywords:
adolescence
health
strength
strength muscle
fat

  • Abstract

    Adolescence is a crucial stage of human development, characterized by significant physical and motor changes. Physical activity and sports play an essential role in supporting these processes, contributing to the development of a healthy body. However, the participation of high-school students in institutional sports events and its influence on body composition and physical performance remains to be better understood. This study aimed to compare physical performance and body composition parameters of students who do and do not participate in school sports competitions in a federal public school. Adolescents from 15 to 18 years old (52 boys, 70 girls) participated in this cross-sectional study. Body composition was assessed by a tetrapolar bioelectrical impedance device. Muscle handgrip strength, power, velocity, agility, and flexibility were also assessed. Female participants in sports competition presented lower fat mass (30.8 ± 7.2 % vs. 37.5 ± 7.4%, p<0.05) and higher fat free mass (28.0 ± 2.5% vs. 25.6 ± 2.4%, p<0.05) compared to the non-participating ones, with no differences in physical performance. Male participants in sports presented higher handgrip strength (90.5 ± 12.6 kgf vs. 78.7 ± 18.0 kgf, p<0.05) and improved agility performance (6.3 ± 0.6 s vs. 6.9 ± .0.6 s, p<0.05) compared to the non-participating ones, with no differences in body composition. Participation in school sports games is linked to better body composition in girls, while greater strength and agility in boys, suggesting that sports practice may be a determining factor for the development of physical capacities in adolescents. These findings reinforce the importance of educational policies that encourage sports participation as a strategy for promoting health during adolescence.

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How to cite

Gadelha, A. B., Gonçalves, A. de G., Burmester, D. L., Pacheco, Y. B., & Dutra, M. T. (2025). Comparison of physical performance and body composition between students participating and not participating in high school sports competitions. Malque Health, 2(1), 2026002. https://doi.org/10.31893/health.2026002
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