Stereotypes In Sports

ABSTRACT: The interest in body type or physique of individuals and populations has a long history going back to the ancient Greeks, Rome and India. Many systems for classifying physique have been proposed over the centuries, leading to the system called somatotype as proposed by Sheldon (1940), and subsequently modified by others, notably Parnell (1958) and Heath and Carter (1967). The somatotype is defined as the quantification of the present shape and composition of the human body. Sheldon believed that somatotype was a fixed or genetic characteristic, but the present view that the somatotype is phonotypical and thus amenable to change under the influence of growth, aging, exercise and nutrition (Carter and Heath 1990). Among these, Heath

As a definite game or sporting event has its unique demand for body type so as the athletes body type suited to a definite sport. Several research studies have been conducted to analyze the impact of body or somatotype on sport also numerous studies conducted to assess the effects of body composition on various sporting events but according to the literature available very few studies have been conducted to locate the difference of body composition among weight lifters and body builders though performance in both of them are to a great extent influenced by their bodily fat mass, lean mass, fat percentage etc. thus the author felt encouraged to conduct the study entitled “A comparative study to explore the difference on body composition variables between state level body builders and weight lifters”. From data analysis the investigator arrived at the conclusion that Weight lifters possess more fat percent than the body builders, weight lifters possess more fat mass than the body builders. Also the weight lifters possess more lean body mass than the body

Many systems for classifying physique have been proposed over the centuries, leading to the system called somatotype as proposed by Sheldon (1940), and subsequently modified by others, notably Parnell (1958) and Heath and Carter (1967). The somatotype is defined as the quantification of the present shape and composition of the human body. Sheldon believed that somatotype was a fixed or genetic characteristic, but the present view that the somatotype is phonotypical and thus amenable to change under the influence of growth, aging, exercise and nutrition (Carter and Heath 1990). Among these, Heath and Carter somatotype method is one of the comprehensive evaluation methods. Using this method 10 items of anthropometric indicators are selected and three factors which could be to represent relative content of body fat, growth degree of skeletal muscle and relative height and thinness of body (relative line degree), respectively are calculated. Somatotype or body type has a great role to play in the aspect of sport and games. As a definite game or sporting event has its unique demand for body type so as the athletes body type suited to a definite sport. Several research studies have been conducted to analyze the impact of body or somatotype on sport also numerous studies conducted to assess the effects of body composition on various