Re-evaluation of Somatotype Theory: A Comparative Analysis of Body Type and Composition in Predicting Athletic Performance

This study re-evaluates the predictive validity of the Heath-Carter somatotype classification with body composition and athletic performance among young athletes. Sixty athletes (aged 18-19) from five sports- Cricket, Badminton, Taekwondo, Archery, and Lawn Tennis- were systematically sampled from coaching institutes in Assam, India, and categorized as endomorph, mesomorph, or ectomorph using standard anthropometric protocols. Key body composition indices (BMI, Body Fat Percentage, Waist to Hip Ratio) and athletic performance measures (Aerobic capacity, Anaerobic Power, Speed, Agility, Strength) were compared across somatotype groups. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS-27, and significance was determined at p < 0.05. The results indicate that mesomorphs generally demonstrated higher strength and anaerobic power, while ectomorphs excelled in aerobic capacity and agility; however, significant overlap existed among groups, and not all differences reached statistical significance (p < 0.05 for several variables). The findings suggest that while somatotype provides some insight into athletic potential, its predictive power is limited in isolation. The study concludes that a multifactorial approach-integrating anthropometric, physiological, and functional assessments, is essential for accurate talent identification and individualized training in modern sports science.