Anthropometric Profiling, Somatotype Differentiation, and Methodological Discrepancies in Body Fat Estimation Across Combat Sports: A Comparative Multi-Equation Analysis.
8 affiliations
- 1Altius Performance Laboratory, Physical Education and Sports Program, Universidad Surcolombiana, Neiva 410010, Colombia.
- 2Departamento de Ciencias de la Actividad Física, Universidad de Los Lagos, Osorno 5290000, Chile.
- 3School of Kinesiology, Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins, Santiago 8370993, Chile.
- 4Program of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Basic Sciences, Fundación Universitaria Navarra (UNINAVARRA), Neiva 410010, Colombia.
- 5Faculty of Physical Education, National Pedagogical University, Bogotá 110221, Colombia.
- 6Faculty of Physical Culture, Sport and Recreation, Universidad Santo Tomás, Tunja 150001, Colombia.
- 7Body, Physical Activity and Sport Study Group (GECAFD), Sports Department, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Bucaramanga 680002, Colombia.
- 8Freshage Research Group, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, CIBERFES, Fundación Investigación Hospital Clínico Universitario/INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain.
Abstract
Objectives: To evaluate kinanthropometric profiles, somatotypes, Phantom z-scores, and methodological discrepancies among nine body fat percentage (%BF) equations relative to the Katch & McArdle comparator equation across combat sports. Methods: Sixty-seven elite male athletes (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: n = 17, Muay Thai: n = 16, Wrestling: n = 16, Taekwondo: n = 18) underwent complete ISAK profiling. Differences across disciplines were assessed via ANOVA, while inter-equation agreement was evaluated using repeated-measures ANOVA, Bland-Altman metrics, Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (ρc), and principal component analysis (PCA). Results: Striking and grappling disciplines exhibited distinct morphological profiles, with Taekwondo displaying an ecto-mesomorphic habitus versus the endo-mesomorphic profile of grappling combat sports. Substantial systematic differences and proportional biases were observed across %BF equations (p < 0.001). Withers demonstrated the highest agreement with the comparator equation, whereas Durnin & Womersley showed a marked positive bias. PCA ordination (accounting for 71.78% of variance) successfully separated morphological robusticity from linearity. Conclusions: Anthropometric %BF equations produce substantial systematic discrepancies and should not be considered interchangeable when monitoring combat athletes. External validation against an independent criterion method is required before establishing absolute body fat values.
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BibTeX
@article{monterrosaquintero2026anthropometric,
title = {{Anthropometric Profiling, Somatotype Differentiation, and Methodological Discrepancies in Body Fat Estimation Across Combat Sports: A Comparative Multi-Equation Analysis.}},
author = {Armando Monterrosa-Quintero and Alex Ojeda-Aravena and Adriana Guzmán-Sanchez and Boryi A Becerra-Patiño and Julian Mauricio Soto Morcote and Jorge Alberto Charry Fernandez and Adrián De la Rosa},
journal = {Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/jfmk11040435},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42924714},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Anthropometric Profiling, Somatotype Differentiation, and Methodological Discrepancies in Body Fat Estimation Across Combat Sports: A Comparative Multi-Equation Analysis.
AU - Armando Monterrosa-Quintero
AU - Alex Ojeda-Aravena
AU - Adriana Guzmán-Sanchez
AU - Boryi A Becerra-Patiño
AU - Julian Mauricio Soto Morcote
AU - Jorge Alberto Charry Fernandez
AU - Adrián De la Rosa
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/20
JO - Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology
DO - 10.3390/jfmk11040435
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42924714
AB - Objectives: To evaluate kinanthropometric profiles, somatotypes, Phantom z-scores, and methodological discrepancies among nine body fat percentage (%BF) equations relative to the Katch & McArdle comparator equation across combat sports. Methods: Sixty-seven elite male athletes (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: n = 17, Muay Thai: n = 16, Wrestling: n = 16, Taekwondo: n = 18) underwent complete ISAK profiling. Differences across disciplines were assessed via ANOVA, while inter-equation agreement was evaluated using repeated-measures ANOVA, Bland-Altman metrics, Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (ρc), and principal component analysis (PCA). Results: Striking and grappling disciplines exhibited distinct morphological profiles, with Taekwondo displaying an ecto-mesomorphic habitus versus the endo-mesomorphic profile of grappling combat sports. Substantial systematic differences and proportional biases were observed across %BF equations (p < 0.001). Withers demonstrated the highest agreement with the comparator equation, whereas Durnin & Womersley showed a marked positive bias. PCA ordination (accounting for 71.78% of variance) successfully separated morphological robusticity from linearity. Conclusions: Anthropometric %BF equations produce substantial systematic discrepancies and should not be considered interchangeable when monitoring combat athletes. External validation against an independent criterion method is required before establishing absolute body fat values.
SN - 2411-5142
ER -