Somatotype tendency in chilean adolescents from Valparaíso: Review from 1979 to 2011

Introduction: A good tool to determine the biotype of growing and developing subjects that has been observed is the somatotype (ST). Objetive: This research study aims to describe the ST tendency in Chilean adolescents along the years. Methods: The bibliographic review was carried out using data from Medline, ISI Web of Knowledge, and SciELO. The key words used for the search were: somatotype, somatotyping, adolescent (in English and Spanish). The selected articles must describe ST in Chilean adolescents between 15 and 18 years of age. The graphic representation was made through a somatochart and the series ST. To analyze the trajectory of the ST, the moving average method was used (SM), and the tendency line (lineal; TL), which expresses the data direction and projection. Results: Eight articles complied with the inclusion criteria. Samples of students between 1979 and 2011 from the Regions of Valparaíso, Araucanía, and the Metropolitan region of Chile were reported. All studies correspond to transversal samples. The authors cite and/or describe the Heath-Carter anthropometric methods to assess the ST. The results showed positive TL for the endomorph component in all ages and genders. The mesomorph component maintained in male, unlike the female’s component, which was negative except for the one at 18 years old. SM trajectory describes a regularity of the mesomorphic endomorph profile in female, yet with an increase in the endomorphy. In male, a change was observed from an ectomorphic mesomorph to endomorphic mesomorph. Conclusions: This progressive rise of the adipose component in both genders increases the risk of suffering non-communicable diseases.