Objective:

To examine the differences in body composition parameters between boys and girls in higher elementary school grades (grades V to VIII).

Approach:

Key Findings:

• Significant trends were observed in skeletal muscle mass (SMM), body fat mass, lean body mass (LBM), and relative lean body mass (RLBM) across both sexes (p < 0.001).
• Boys showed significant increases in SMM, RLBM, LBM, and relative body fat mass (RBFM) (p < 0.001, p = 0.004).
• Girls exhibited significant increases in SMM and LBM (p < 0.001).
• Relative body fat mass (RBFM) did not show a significant trend (p = 0.145).

Interpretation:

Sex-related differences in muscle mass and body mass were observed, with boys showing increased relative muscle mass and girls showing increased body fat percentage, highlighting the need for tailored health monitoring.

Limitations:

• The study was limited to a specific geographic area (Knjaževac, Serbia), which may affect the generalizability of the findings.
• The sample size may not be representative of all elementary school students.

Conclusion:

The findings highlight the necessity of considering sex differences when monitoring and analyzing body composition parameters in children.

Attribution Notice

This content is an AI-generated, fully rewritten summary based on a published scholarly article. It does not reproduce the original text and is not a substitute for the original publication. Readers are encouraged to consult the source for full context, data, and methodology.