Body composition and physical performance in university students: a cross-sectional analysis using bioimpedance and vertical jump tests.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24054/afdh.v17i1.4617Keywords:
body composition, bioimpedance, physical fitness, vertical jump, countermovement jumpAbstract
Body composition is an important factor for both physical and neuromuscular performance in university students; however, research in this field is limited. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between body composition and physical performance among students in the Professional Sports Program. A cross-sectional observational study with a quantitative approach and a descriptive-correlational scope was conducted, involving 20 students (14 men and 6 women) selected via non-probability convenience sampling. Body composition was assessed using bioimpedance, while physical performance was determined through the Abalakov jump, Countermovement Jump, Squat Jump, handgrip dynamometry, standing long jump, and the 10 × 5 m shuttle run. The data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman's rank correlation, simple linear regression, and principal component analysis. The findings highlighted significant correlations between body composition and physical performance. Participants with a higher body fat percentage showed lower performance in vertical jump tests, whereas participants with a higher muscle percentage demonstrated better neuromuscular performance.
Downloads
References
Benavides-Roca, L., Salazar-Orellana, C., Díaz-Coira, G., & Alarcón-Rivera, M. (2025). Relationship between body composition and mechanical variables and strength performance in university athletes. Archivos de Medicina del Deporte. https://doi.org/10.18176/archmeddeporte.00183
Caia, J., Weiss, L. W., Chiu, L. Z. F., Schilling, B. K., Paquette, M. R., & Relyea, G. E. (2016). Do lower-body dimensions and body composition explain vertical jump ability? Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 30(11), 3073–3083. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001406
Campa, F., Gobbo, L. A., Stagi, S., Cyrino, L. T., Toselli, S., Marini, E., & Coratella, G. (2022). Bioelectrical impedance analysis versus reference methods in the assessment of body composition in athletes. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 122(3), 561–589. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04879-y
Chen, X., Cui, J., Zhang, Y., & Peng, W. (2020). The association between BMI and health-related physical fitness among Chinese college students: A cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 20, Article 444. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-08517-8
Correas-Gómez, L., Benítez-Flores, S., Calleja-González, J., & Carnero, E. (2023). Quality of lean body mass and jump capacity in high-performance young basketball players. Journal of Sports Sciences, 41(15), 1667–1677. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2023.2291294
Dalui, R., Roy, A., Kalinski, M., & Bandyopadhyay, A. (2014). Relationship of vertical jump test with anthropometric parameters and body composition in university students: A gender variation. Central European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine, 2, 83–90.
Habib, H., Rahman, T., Alom, M., Rana, M., & Uddin, M. (2025). Gender-specific correlations between body composition and basal metabolic rate in university students: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Physical Education, Sports and Health. https://doi.org/10.22271/kheljournal.2025.v12.i2e.3745
Kahraman, M., & Okut, S. (2025). The relationship between body composition parameters, anaerobic power, and jumping performance in basketball players. Physical Education of Students. https://doi.org/10.15561/20755279.2025.0107
Legg, L., Rush, M., Rush, J., McCoy, S., Garner, J., & Donahue, P. (2021). Association between body composition and vertical jump performance in female collegiate volleyball athletes. International Journal of Kinesiology and Sports Science, 9(4), 43–49. https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijkss.v.9n.4p.43
Li, B., Sun, L., Yu, Y., Xin, H., Zhang, H., Liu, J., & Zhang, Z. (2022). Associations between body composition and physical fitness among Chinese medical students: A cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 22, Article 2419. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14548-0
López-Sánchez, G. F., Radziminski, L., Skalska, M., Jastrzebska, J., Smith, L., Wakuluk, D., & Jastrzebski, Z. (2019). Body composition, physical fitness, physical activity and nutrition in Polish and Spanish male students of sports sciences: Differences and correlations. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(7), Article 1148. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16071148
Mansour, G., Kacem, A., Ishak, M., Grélot, L., & Ftaiti, F. (2021). The effect of body composition on strength and power in male and female students. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 13, Article 150. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-021-00376-z
Morais, J., Larrière, O., Bragada, J., Bartolomeu, R., Magalhães, P., Schnegg, A., Houndekon, M., Garnier, Y., & Mourot, L. (2025). Comparative analysis of physical fitness and body composition in first-year bachelor sports sciences students from France and Portugal. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 17, Article 95. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-025-01359-0
Mukaka, M. M. (2012). A guide to appropriate use of correlation coefficient in medical research. Malawi Medical Journal, 24(3), 69–71.
Reyes, C., Pesantez, B., Parra, J., & Alvarez-Alvarez, M. (2025). Relationship between body composition and jumping power in university basketball and volleyball players. International Journal of Kinanthropometry. https://doi.org/10.34256/ijk25116
Ward, L. C. (2019). Bioelectrical impedance analysis for body composition assessment: Reflections on accuracy, clinical utility, and standardisation. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 73(2), 194–199. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-018-0335-3
Wu, H., Lin, P., Zeng, G., & Chen, F. (2024). Associations between body mass index and physical fitness indicators among Chinese university students: A multicenter cross-sectional study. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 16, Article 122. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-024-01024-y
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Carlos Enrique García Yerena-Enrique José De La Hoz Domínguez- Rick Keevin Acosta Vega
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
