Investigation of the Relationship Between Body Composition and BMI with Selected Physical Performance Parameters in Young Male Basketball Players

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between body composition and BMI with selected physical performance parameters in young male basketball players. Given the limited number of studies examining these relationships among young basketball players and the inconsistent findings, the present study aims to contribute to the sports science literature.

Method: A cross-sectional study design was used in this study. Twenty-three male athletes who actively play basketball in the U16–U18 categories (age = 16.87 ± 0.92 years; body weight = 79.48 ± 8.01 kg; height = 187.74 ± 6.30 cm; BMI = 22.53 ± 1.63 kg/m²) who were actively playing basketball in the U16–U18 categories voluntarily participated. Performance tests were conducted on three separate days; a 20-meter sprint test was administered on the first day, a T-test on the second day, and a counter-movement jump (CMJ) test on the third day.   To examine the relationship between body composition and physical performance values, the Pearson correlation coefficient was used for data showing a normal distribution, while Spearman’s correlation analysis was used for data not showing a normal distribution.

Results: Body fat percentage (%), CMJ (r = -0.715) showed a strong negative correlation, while CODs (r = 0.736) showed a strong positive correlation (p<0.05). No significant correlation was observed between body fat percentage (%) and 20-m sprint performance (r = 0.220; p>0.05). FFM (kg) values of young male basketball players had a moderate positive correlation with the CMJ (r = 0.564) and a strong negative correlation with the 20-m sprint (r = -0.639), and a moderate negative correlation with CODs (r = -0.450). The athletes’ BMI (kg/m²) values were negatively correlated with CMJ (r = -0.556) and a moderate positive correlation with CODs (r = 0.512). No significant relationship was observed between BMI (kg/m²) and 20-m sprint performance (r = 0.163; p>0.05).

Conclusion: In conclusion, this study has demonstrated the relationship between body composition (body fat percentage, lean body mass, and BMI) and physical performance (CMJ, CODs, and sprint) in young male basketball players. While high body fat percentages and BMI values ​​lead to a decline in athletes' performance, high lean body mass can enhance performance.

Keywords

• Body Composition
• BMI
• Physical Performance
• Basketball Players

Genç Erkek Basketbolcularda Vücut Kompozisyonu ve BMI ile Seçilmiş Fiziksel Performans Parametreleri Arasindaki İlişkinin İncelenmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, genç erkek basketbolcularında vücut kompozisyonu ve BMI ile seçilmiş fiziksel performans parametreleri arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemektir. Genç basketbolcular arasında bu ilişkileri inceleyen çalışmaların sayısının sınırlı olması ve bulguların tutarsızlığı göz önüne alındığında, bu çalışma spor bilimi literatürüne katkı sağlamayı amaçlamaktadır.

Yöntem: Bu çalışmada kesitsel bir araştırma tasarımı kullanılmıştır. U16–U18 kategorilerinde aktif olarak basketbol oynayan yirmi üç erkek sporcu (yaş = 16,87 ± 0,92 yıl; vücut ağırlığı = 79,48 ± 8,01 kg; boy = 187,74 ± 6,30 cm; BMI = 22,53 ± 1,63 kg/m²) gönüllü olarak çalışmaya katılmıştır. Performans testleri üç ayrı günde gerçekleştirildi; ilk gün 20 metrelik sprint testi, ikinci gün T-testi ve üçüncü gün karşı hareketli sıçrama (CMJ) testi uygulandı. Vücut kompozisyonu ile fiziksel performans değerleri arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemek için, normal dağılım gösteren verilerde Pearson korelasyon katsayısı, normal dağılım göstermeyen verilerde ise Spearman korelasyon analizi kullanılmıştır.

Bulgular: Vücut yağ oranı (%) ile CMJ (r = -0,715) arasında güçlü bir negatif korelasyon gözlenirken, COD’s (r = 0,736) ile güçlü bir pozitif korelasyon saptanmıştır (p<0,05). Vücut yağ oranı (%) ile 20 m sprint performansı arasında ise anlamlı bir korelasyon gözlenmemiştir (r = 0,220; p>0,05). Genç erkek basketbolcuların FFM (kg) değerleri, CMJ ile orta derecede pozitif bir korelasyon (r = 0,564), 20 m sprint ile güçlü bir negatif korelasyon (r = -0,639) ve CODs ile orta düzeyde negatif korelasyon (r = -0,450) göstermiştir. Sporcuların BMI (kg/m²) değerleri, CMJ ile negatif (r = -0,556) ve CODs ile orta düzeyde pozitif (r = 0,512) bir korelasyon göstermiştir. BMI (kg/m²) ile 20 m sprint performansı arasında anlamlı bir ilişki gözlemlenmemiştir (r = 0,163; p>0,05).

Sonuç: Sonuç olarak, bu çalışma genç erkek basketbolcularında vücut kompozisyonu (vücut yağ oranı, yağsız vücut kütlesi ve BMI) ile fiziksel performans (CMJ, COD’lar ve sprint) arasındaki ilişkiyi ortaya koymuştur. Yüksek vücut yağ oranları ve BMI değerleri sporcuların performansında düşüşe yol açarken, yüksek yağsız vücut kütlesi performans artışı sağlayabilir.

Keywords

• Vücut Kompozisyonu
• BMI
• Fiziksel Performans
• Basketbolcular

References

1. Akoglu, H. (2018). User's guide to correlation coefficients. Turkish Journal of Emergency Medicine, 18(3), 91-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjem.2018.08.001
2. Aktaş, H. N., & Aslan, C. S. (2018). Examination of the relationship between body composition and speed in amateur football players. Journal of Sports Sciences, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, 1(1), 17-25.
3. Alemdaroğlu, U. (2012). The relationship between muscle strength, anaerobic performance, agility, sprint ability and vertical jump performance in professional basketball players. Journal of Human Kinetics, 31(1), 149–158. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10078-012-0016-6
4. Anwar, S., & Noohu, M. M. (2016). Correlation of percentage body fat and muscle mass with anaerobic and aerobic performance in collegiate soccer players. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol, 60(2), 137-144.
5. Badby, A. J., Mundy, P. D., Comfort, P., Lake, J. P., & McMahon, J. J. (2023). The validity of Hawkin Dynamics wireless dual force plates for measuring countermovement jump and drop jump variables. Sensors, 23(10), 4820. https://doi.org/10.3390/s23104820
6. Čaušević, D., Čović, N., Abazović, E., Rani, B., Manolache, G. M., Ciocan, C. V., ... & Alexe, D. I. (2023). Predictors of speed and agility in youth male basketball players. Applied Sciences, 13(13), 7796. https://doi.org/10.3390/app13137796
7. Chaouachi, A., Brughelli, M., Chamari, K., Levin, G. T., Abdelkrim, N. B., Laurencelle, L., & Castagna, C. (2009). Lower limb maximal dynamic strength and agility determinants in elite basketball players. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 23(5), 1570-1577. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181a4e7f0
8. Coutinho, G. G., Duarte, L. H. C., da Silva, J. C. A., Martins, T. B., Okubo, R., Sinhorim, L., ... & Santos, G. M. (2026). Body composition and countermovement jump performance in healthy women: A cross-sectional observational study. Next Research, 101452. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nexres.2026.101452

9. Dos Santos, I. A., Bertochi, G. F. A., Higino, W. P., Papoti, M., & Puggina, E. F. (2023). The percentage of total and regional fat is negatively correlated with performance in judo. Sports, 11(9), 168. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports11090168
10. Esco, M. R., Fedewa, M. V., Cicone, Z. S., Sinelnikov, O. A., Sekulic, D., & Holmes, C. J. (2018). Field-based performance tests are related to body fat percentage and fat-free mass, but not body mass index, in youth soccer players. Sports, 6(4), 105. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports11090168
11. Ferioli, D., Rampinini, E., Bosio, A., La Torre, A., Azzolini, M., & Coutts, A. J. (2018). The physical profile of adult male basketball players: Differences between competitive levels and playing positions. Journal of Sports Sciences, 36(22), 2567-2574. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2018.1469241
12. França, C., Gouveia, É. R., Martins, F., Ihle, A., Henriques, R., Marques, A., ... & Lopes, H. (2024). Lower-body power, body composition, speed, and agility performance among youth soccer players. Sports, 12(5), 135. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports12050135
13. Gil, S. M., Gil, J., Ruiz, F., Irazusta, A., & Irazusta, J. (2007). Physiological and anthropometric characteristics of young soccer players according to their playing position: relevance for the selection process. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 21(2), 438-445.
14. Hernandez-Martinez, J., Perez-Carcamo, J., Coñapi-Union, B., Canales-Canales, S., Negron-Molina, M., Avila-Valencia, S., ... & Valdés-Badilla, P. (2024). Relationship between body composition and physical performance by sex in professional basketball players. Applied Sciences, 14(20), 9165. https://doi.org/10.3390/app14209165
15. Hopkins, W. G. (2000). Measures of reliability in sports medicine and science. Sports Medicine, 30(1), 1-15.
16. Ishida, A., Travis, S. K., & Stone, M. H. (2021). Associations of body composition, maximum strength, power characteristics with sprinting, jumping, and intermittent endurance performance in male intercollegiate soccer players. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 6(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk6010007
17. İlbak, İ., Düz, S., & Stojanović, S. (2026). Investigation of the relationship between body weight, bmi and vertical jump performance in young basketball players. Journal of Kinesiology and Exercise Sciences, 36. https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0055.6536
18. Kahraman, M. Z., Okut, S., & Çelik, İ. (2025). The Relationship between body composition and speed, agility, and strength parameters in regional amateur league football players. Eurasian Journal of Sport Sciences and Education, 7(1), 117-130. https://doi.org/10.47778/ejsse.1600994
19. Kelly, J., & Metcalfe, J. (2012). Validity and reliability of body composition analysis using the Tanita BC418-MA. Journal of Exercise Physiology Online, 15(6), 74–83.
20. Kızılca, S. (2025). Relationship between body composition and speed, strength and jumping performance in young male soccer players. Advances in Health and Exercise, 5(1), 25-31.
21. Koo, T. K., & Li, M. Y. (2016). A guideline of selecting and reporting intraclass correlation coefficients for reliability research. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 15(2), 155-163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcm.2016.02.012
22. Köklü, Y., Alemdaroğlu, U., Koçak, F. U., Erol, A. E., & Fındıkoğlu, G. (2011). Comparison of chosen physical fitness characteristics of Turkish professional basketball players by division and playing position. Journal of Human Kinetics, 30, 99–106. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10078-011-0077-y
23. Lockie, R. G., Schultz, A. B., Callaghan, S. J., Jeffriess, M. D., & Berry, S. P. (2013). Reliability and validity of a new test of change-of-direction speed for field-based sports: the change-of-direction and acceleration test (CODAT). Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, 12(1), 88–96.
24. Majumdar, A. S., & Robergs, R. A. (2011). The science of speed: Determinants of performance in the 100 m sprint. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 6(3), 479-493. https://doi.org/10.1260/1747-9541.6.3.479
25. Mala, L., Maly, T., Zahalka, F., Bunc, V., Kaplan, A., Jebavy, R., & Tuma, M. (2015). Body composition of elite female players in five different sports games. Journal of Human Kinetics, 45, 207. https://doi.org/10.1515/hukin-2015-0021
26. Nikolaidis, P. T. (2012). Elevated body mass index and body fat percentage are associated with decreased physical fitness in soccer players aged 12–14 years. Asian Journal of Sports Medicine, 3(3), 168. https://doi.org/10.5812/asjsm.34687
27. Nikolaidis, P. T. (2013). Body mass index and body fat percentage are associated with decreased physical fitness in adolescent and adult female volleyball players. Journal of research in medical sciences: the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, 18(1), 22.
28. Nikolaidis, P. T., Asadi, A., Santos, E. J., Calleja-González, J., Padulo, J., Chtourou, H., & Zemkova, E. (2015). Relationship of body mass status with running and jumping performances in young basketball players. Muscles, Ligaments and Tendons Journal, 5(3), 187. https://doi.org/10.11138/mltj/2015.5.3.187
29. Nikolaidis, P. T., Chtourou, H., Torres-Luque, G., Rosemann, T., & Knechtle, B. (2019). The relationship of age and BMI with physical fitness in futsal players. Sports, 7(4), 87. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports7040087
30. Oliveira, N. M., Lázari, E., Matias, C. N., Guerra-Júnior, G., & Gonçalves, E. M. (2024). Sprint and jump performance are determined by localized BIA-an ecological study in track and field adolescent athletes. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 16(1), 235. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-024-01023-z.
31. Patterson, S. M., Udermann, B. E., Doberstein, S. T., & Reineke, D. M. (2008). The effects of cold whirlpool on power, speed, agility, and range of motion. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 7(3), 387–393.
32. Ramos, S., Volossovitch, A., Ferreira, A. P., Teles, J., Fragoso, I., & Massuça, L. M. (2023). The body composition effects on physical tests and on-court game performance of u-14 elite Portuguese basketball players. Applied Sciences, 13(10), 6313. https://doi.org/10.3390/app13106313
33. Rocha, J., Serrano, J., Martinez-Sanchez, A., Campos-Redondo, A., & Ibáñez, S. J. (2026). Effects of body composition and anthropometric profiles on competitive performance in U14 male basketball players. Sports, 14(6), 228. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports14060228
34. Russell, J. L., Baker, B. S., Mercer, R. A., & McLean, B. D. (2025). Examining the influence of season phase, age, and anthropometrics on body composition trends in National Basketball Association athletes. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 39(2), 227-233. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000004959
35. Sansone, P., Makivic, B., Csapo, R., Hume, P., Martínez-Rodríguez, A., & Bauer, P. (2022). Body fat of basketball players: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Medicine-Open, 8(1), 26. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-022-00418-x
36. Semenick, D. (1990). The T-test. National Strength & Conditioning Association Journal, 12(1), 36–37.
37. Spiteri, T., Newton, R. U., Binetti, M., Hart, N. H., Sheppard, J. M., & Nimphius, S. (2015). Mechanical determinants of faster change of direction and agility performance in female basketball athletes. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 29(8), 2205-2214. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000876
38. Stefansdottir, R., Gundersen, H., Benediktsson, S., Vestbøstad, M., Johannsson, E., & Rognvaldsdottir, V. (2025). Associations between bone age, body composition and physical performance in Icelandic 12‐year‐old female soccer players. European Journal of Sport Science, 25(9), e70029. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.70029
39. Stephenson, M. L., Smith, D. T., Heinbaugh, E. M., Moynes, R. C., Rockey, S. S., Thomas, J. J., & Dai, B. (2015). Total and lower extremity lean mass percentage positively correlates with jump performance. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 29(8), 2167-2175 https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000851
40. Toplica, S., Marko, Z., & Nikola, S. (2025). Relationship of body composition and jump height of top volleyball players. Zbornik Radova, 50. https://doi.org/10.5937/ATAVPA25050S