Abstract:

Background: It is to determine the body composition, hand motor grip strength and somatotype measurements in healthy child between 3 and 6 years old. Methods: Seventy three (73) healthy child (34 boys, 39 girls) are participated in our study. Anthropometric measurements are performed to determine body composition in children included in the study. From these measurements, the circumference measurements of head and neck, arm and thigh and diameter measurements of elbow and knee, the grip of hand strength and subcutaneous fat thickness are calculated. The somatotype values are determined according to Health Carter Analysis method. Results: Age, weight, height and body mass index-BMI (SD) are 4.41 (0.91) years, 18.90 (3.70) kg, 106.90 (7.04) cm ve 16.45 (2.07) kg/m2 in girls, respectively whereas the corresponding values are found as 4.50 (0.90) years, 18.82 (3.52) kg, 108.40 (7.14) cm ve 15.89 (1.44) kg/m2 in boys, respectively. Significant difference are no found between two genders about demographic data (p>0.05). Significant difference are no found between girls and boys in all measurements (exclude arm circumference and hand grip strength measurements) both right and left side (p>0.05). Also, the significant difference are found in somatotype such as endomorph, ectomorph and mesomorph between girls and boys (p<0.05). Conclusion: The differences that may occur between genders in development have been observed for puberty period. So, whereas development in this study is similar in both genders, skinfold thickness measurements were found higher in girls than boys.