Role of fat-free mass and somatotype components in motor performance among Indian tribal children

Abstract

Background and Study Aim. Motor performance in childhood is influenced by multiple morphological and functional factors. Fat-free mass and somatotype components are considered relevant characteristics that may affect the development of motor abilities. Despite their recognized role, the extent to which these factors contribute to specific motor tasks during the prepubescent period remains a subject of practical interest. This study investigated the relationship between fat-free mass and motor abilities in tribal children aged 8–10 years.

Materials and Methods. A total of 643 school-going boys were recruited from the Autonomous District Council of Tripura, India, using a stratified sampling approach. The sample included 643 children with a mean age of 8.9 (SD = 0.33) years. Three standardized field tests were administered to assess speed, lower-body explosive power, and upper-body explosive strength. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed to examine the extent to which fat-free mass (FFM) and somatotype components predicted performance across different motor ability measures.

Results. The findings showed a task-specific pattern. Fat-free mass and somatotype components did not significantly predict performance in the standing broad jump or 30-m sprint. However, mesomorphy was a significant predictor of medicine ball throw performance in the final hierarchical model. This result relates to upper-body explosive strength. These findings indicate that the influence of somatic characteristics on motor performance is not uniform in prepubescent children. It depends on the specific physical and mechanical demands of each task.

Conclusions. These findings support the view of motor performance in children as a multidimensional and outcome-specific construct. The study provides empirical data from a tribal child population. It also indicates the need for future research designs that include indicators of biological maturation, habitual physical activity, and coordinative abilities. These factors are required to better explain interindividual variability in motor performance.