Central European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine


ISSN: 2300-9705    eISSN: 2353-2807    OAI    DOI: 10.18276/cej.2026.2-04
CC BY-SA   Open Access   DOAJ  DOAJ  DOAJ

Issue archive / Vol. 54, No. 2/2026
Analysis of body composition in school-aged children as an indicator of obesity risk and a challenge for health promotion

Authors: Natalia Habik-Tatarowska ORCID
Zakład Promocji Zdrowia i e-Zdrowia Instytut Zdrowia Publicznego Collegium Medicum Uniwersytet Jagielloński

Paulina Szumilas ORCID
Doktor Nauk o Zdrowiu, Instytut Fizjoterapii, Wydział Nauk o Zdrowiu, Uniwersytet Jana Kochanowskiego w Kielcach
Keywords: body composition obesity overweight health prevention
Whole issue publication date:2026
Page range:10 (41-50)
Klasyfikacja JEL: I10 I12
Cited-by (Crossref) ?:

Abstract

Background. Overweight and obesity among school-aged children are an increasing global public health problem, leading to serious health, social, and economic consequences. Early diagnosis and identification of children at risk are essential for preventive strategies. Since BMI has limitations in assessing body composition, bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is increasingly applied. Aim. The aim of the study was to analyze body composition parameters in 10-11 year-old children with emphasis on gender differences. Material and methods. The study involved 254 primary school students from the Świętokrzyskie region. Body composition was measured using the Tanita MC-780 device, assessing body weight, height, BMI, body fat percentage, muscle mass, basal metabolic rate (BMR), impedance, and phase angle. Results. Among 10-year-old children, boys showed significantly higher fat-free mass, muscle mass, and bone mass than girls. In the group of 11-year-olds, girls demonstrated significantly higher fat-free mass, muscle mass, and bone mass than boys. No significant sex differences were observed in BMI, body fat percentage, or phase angle. Strong positive correlations were found between body mass and BMI and between muscle mass and fat-free mass in both sexes. Conclusions. The results confirm sex-based differences in body composition. Early identification of abnormal values can support targeted preventive and educational interventions.
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