Re<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK20;">lationship of Body Composition and Somatotype with Physical Activity Level and Nutrition Knowledge in Elite and Non-Elite Orienteering Athletes
Authors: Esteve-Ibáñez Héctor , Drehmer Eraci , da Silva Vladimir Schuindt , Souza Israel , Santos Silva Diego Augusto , Vieira Filomena 
Published: January 2025

Objectives: This study aimed to identify physique characteristics (anthropometric, somatotype, body composition) of Orienteers and to compare them across with Nutrition Knowledge and Physical Activity Level. Methods: Data was collected from 58 competitive Orienteering athletes, 10 elite female (age&thinsp;=&thinsp;25.5 &plusmn; 6.4&thinsp;years, body mass&thinsp;=&thinsp;59.5 &plusmn; 7.7&thinsp;kg, height&thinsp;=&thinsp;168.1 &plusmn; 6.5&thinsp;cm, BMI&thinsp;=&thinsp;21.0 &plusmn; 1.9&thinsp;kg/m2) and 13 elite male (age&thinsp;=&thinsp;24.3 &plusmn; 5.0&thinsp; years, body mass&thinsp;=&thinsp;65.0 &plusmn; 5.5&thinsp;kg, height&thinsp;=&thinsp;175.1 &plusmn; 6.0&thinsp;cm, BMI&thinsp;=&thinsp;21.3 &plusmn; 2.2&thinsp;kg/m2) and 18 non-elite female (age&thinsp;=&thinsp;41.7 &plusmn; 10.3&thinsp; years, body mass&thinsp;=&thinsp;60.6 &plusmn; 8.5&thinsp;kg, height&thinsp;=&thinsp;161.3 &plusmn; 11.7&thinsp;cm, BMI&thinsp;=&thinsp;23.4 &plusmn; 3.7&thinsp;kg/m2) and 17 non-elite male (age&thinsp;=&thinsp;37.2 &plusmn; 14.6&thinsp; years, body mass&thinsp;=&thinsp;71.5 &plusmn; 14.2&thinsp;kg, height&thinsp;=&thinsp;174.0 &plusmn; 8.8&thinsp;cm, BMI&thinsp;=&thinsp;23.6 &plusmn; 4.1&thinsp;kg/m2). Nutrition knowledge was evaluated using the updated Abridged Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (A-NSKQ). Physical activity was assessed using the short version of the self-reported International Physical Activity Questionnaire &ndash; Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Results: The percentage of body fat (p = .050) in elite male was significantly lower than in non-elite male. Mesomorphy (p = .030) in elite female was significantly lower than in non-elite female, but the ectomorphy (p = .019) was significantly higher. Elite male are ectomorphic mesomorph while non-elite male are balanced mesomorph and elite female are central and non-elite female are endomorphic mesomorph. Significant differences (p = .025) were also observed in the Sports Nutrition Knowledge among elite male and non-elite male, with the former group achieving a higher percentage of correct responses. In the case of Total Nutritional Knowledge, elite Orienteering athletes of both sexes scored significantly higher (elite female: p = .042; elite male: p = .029) than their non-elite counterparts. A significant negative correlation is also observed between body fat and MET-min/week (r = &minus;.39, p = .038), bone mass and MET-min/week (r = &minus;.40, p = .033), endomorphy and Sports Nutrition Knowledge (r = &minus;.38, p = .045) in female Orienteering athletes. Among male Orienteering athletes the most significant findings include a negative correlation between age and MET-min/week (r = &minus;.49, p = .010), kcal/week (r = &minus;.46, p = .016) and Sports Nutrition Knowledge (r = &minus;.40, p = .029). Conclusions: Key findings indicate that elite Orienteers have lower body fat percentages and higher nutrition knowledge scores compared to non-elite Orienteers. These results on the physical characteristics of Orienteering athletes and score of Physical Activity and classification of Nutrition Knowledge can be useful to coaches and sports scientists to improve Orienteer&rsquo;s performance.