Dynamic Body Composition Adaptations in Young Athletes (15–17 Years Old): A Two-Year Follow-Up Using Professional Bioelectrical Impedance Monitoring.

Authors

  • Boutahra Moussa
  • Kedjadja Salim
  • Samir Mansouri
  • Mekhancha Salim
  • Aknouche Mokhtar

Keywords:

youth athletes, football, body composition, bioelectrical impedance analysis, muscle mass, fat mass, bone mass, longitudinal study, adolescence, sports science

Abstract

Background: Monitoring body composition in youth athletes is essential for understanding growth, training-related adaptations, and health trajectories during adolescence. Professional bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) provides a practical and reliable method to evaluate these changes longitudinally.

Objective: To examine two-year changes in skeletal muscle mass, fat mass, bone mass, and body mass index (BMI) in young amateur football players using repeated BIA assessments.

Methods: Twenty male regional-level football players (mean age: 15.9 years; height: 169 cm; weight: 52.82 kg) were followed across two competitive seasons (2023–2024 and 2024–2025). Body composition was measured at four standardized time points (start and end of each season) using a professional BIA system (Tanita PRO 780). The training regimen consisted of four sessions per week over 26-week seasons (~170 hours per season). Analyses included repeated measures comparisons, Wilcoxon tests, and effect size calculations (Cohen’s d).

Results: Muscle mass increased significantly over the two years (+5.66 kg, d = 2.05, +9.17%). Bone mass showed a substantial increase (+0.40 kg, d = 2.21, +17.39%). Fat mass remained stable over time (–0.01 kg, d = 0.01, 0.13%). BMI increased moderately (+1.24 kg/m², d = 0.97, +6.84%). Early seasonal fluctuations were not cumulative, while long-term improvements in lean and bone tissue were pronounced.


Conclusion: Two consecutive seasons of structured football training induced significant gains in muscle and bone mass, maintained stable fat mass, and moderately increased BMI in young athletes. Professional BIA is a valuable tool for monitoring growth and physiological development in adolescent sports contexts

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References

[1] Beunen, G., & Malina, R. M. (2020). Growth and physical performance in youth.

[2] Faigenbaum, A. et al. (2019). Youth resistance training and developmental adaptations.

[3] Moran, J. et al. (2022). Seasonal body composition changes in youth athletes.

[4] Tenforde, A., & Fredericson, M. (2018). Bone health in adolescent athletes.

[5] Ling, C. et al. (2022). Validity of BIA for body composition monitoring.

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Published

2026-01-07

How to Cite

1.
Moussa B, Salim K, Mansouri S, Salim M, Mokhtar A. Dynamic Body Composition Adaptations in Young Athletes (15–17 Years Old): A Two-Year Follow-Up Using Professional Bioelectrical Impedance Monitoring. J Neonatal Surg [Internet]. 2026 Jan. 7 [cited 2026 May 24];15(1):11-6. Available from: https://jneonatalsurg.com/index.php/jns/article/view/9844

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 1 (2026): Journal of Neonatal Surgery

Section

Original Article

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