Somato-Functional Profile of Children at Risk of Educational and Social Exclusion in Western Romania
Authors:   National University of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Bucharest, Romania, Tudor Virgil , Pelin Florin ,   National University of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Bucharest, Romania, Ghitescu Gabriel Iulian ,   National University of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Bucharest, Romania, Moanta Alina-Daniela ,   National University of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Bucharest, Romania, Grigore Vasilica ,   National University of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Bucharest, Romania, Hidi Iozsef ,   National University of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Bucharest, Romania, Mujea Ana-Maria ,   National University of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Bucharest, Romania, Harcau Daniel ,   Mehedinti County School Inspectorate, Romania, Nosal Robert ,   Caras-Severin County School Inspectorate, Romania, Onita Dinu ,   Bistrita-Nasaud County School Inspectorate, Romania, Vasilica Costinel Dorian ,   Floresti Middle School, Mehedinti, Romania, Radoi Fulga Ionut Bogdan ,   Hinova Middle School, Mehedinti, Romania, Lepa Martian-Flavius ,   “Romulus Ladea” Middle School, Oravita, Caras-Severin, Romania, Schvaner Artur ,   Middle School no. 8, Resita, Caras-Severin, Romania, Stetz Dezideriu Bogdan ,   “Mihai Eminescu” Middle School, Nasaud, Bistrita-Nasaud, Romania, Muthi Marius Leon ,   “Nicolae Draganu” Middle School, Zagra, Bistrita-Nasaud, Romania
Published: January 2021

This paper aims to identify the somatic and functional profile of middle-school students from three areas of Romania (South-West, West and North-West). A group of 364 students (173 girls and 191 boys) aged between 10 and 16 years (12.75 ± 1.2) from 6 different schools in Mehedinti, Caras-Severin and Bistrita-Nasaud counties took part in this study. The target group category includes Roma ethnic students, students from disorganised families and students at high risk of early school dropout, from both urban and rural areas. The calculated statistical indicators were: arithmetic mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation and Pearson coefficient. The anthropometric measurements made to identify the somatic and functional profile of students were height, weight, BMI, arm span and Ruffier test. The results show an upward trend in the height of boys aged between 10 (1.44 m) and 16 years (1.67 m), the maximum value recorded for girls aged 14 years being 1.59 m. The highest value of body weight was identified in boys aged 15 years (58.91 kg) and girls aged 14 years (52.63 kg). The highest value for arm span was found for 15-years-old boys (167 cm) and 14-years-old girls (158.83 cm). BMI values for both boys and girls were between 17.22 and 21.52 points. In Ruffier test, the scores obtained by students ranged between 9.95 and 13.4. This research is part of the “Sustainable social and education integration through sport activities” project (PNP001).