Somatotype and body composition of Iranian elite bodybuilders

Kinanthropometry is a fundamental tool to lead trai ning program in bodybuilding. Bodybuilding is a spo rt that certainly focuses body appearances, muscles configu ration and shape, trying to achieve supramuscular p hysique. However, few studies so far, in Iran and other coun try, have addressed this issue. The purpose of this paper is to describe body composition, somatotype and proportio nality of 12 Iranian elite bodybuilders in the year 2009, and comparison of them with Brazilian and Belgian elite bodybuilders. The all measurements were taken acco rding to the International Society for the Advancement of Ki nanthropometry (ISAK) guidelines. Body mass, Height , eight Skinfolds (SF) thickness (Triceps, Subscapular, Bic eps, Iliac crest, Abdominal, Supraspinale, Midthigh , and Medial calf), five Girths [Arm Girths (Relaxed), Arm Girth s (Flexed and Tensed), Waist Girths, Hip Girths and Calf Girths] and two Breadths (Biepicondylar Humerus Breadth and Biepicondylar Femur Breadth) from each subject wer e assessed 24-h before the competition and after 9-12 hours of fasting, 7-8 am, in clinical exercise phy siology laboratory. The bodybuilder's age and body mass ind ex were be 23.41 ± 1.56 (years), 23.75 ± 2.18 (kg.m -2 ); respectively. The sum of the eight skinfolds was 28 .20 ± 2.22 mm. The somatotype was 0.92-6.86-1.84, w hich can be classified as a balanced mesomorphism. Our study sh owed a similarity between the Iranian, Belgian and Brazilian elite bodybuilders, with superior muscle type, a de cisive factor for success in bodybuilding. This gr oup of Iranian elite bodybuilders showed lower body fat and bigger muscular mass when compared to the other bodybuild ers, with their body structure similar to the elite international bodybuilders. Thus, Iranian elite bodybuilders showed the Excellency level of bodybuilding in IRAN.