Beden Kitle İndeksinin Mesosternale Açısından İncelenmesi

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate mesosternale (chest circumference), a measurement reflecting upper body morphology, using BMI and to determine gender-specific reference ranges, in order to reduce the limitations of BMI.Method: The research was conducted on a total of 700 university students, 500 men and 200 women, studying at the Faculty of Sports Sciences of Kırşehir Ahi Evran University, who voluntarily participated in the study. Participants' height, weight, and mesosternale (chest circumference) measurements were taken; BMI values were categorized according to the classification criteria recommended by the World Health Organization for adultsResults: The findings showed that male individuals had higher height, weight, and chest circumference values compared to females. In the reference ranges created according to BMI categories, it was determined that the increase in chest circumference in female individuals was mainly associated with fat tissue accumulation, while in male individuals, especially in the normal and overweight groups, the combined effect of muscle and fat tissue was observed. Furthermore, by using the chest circumference/height ratio, the effect of inter-individual height differences was reduced, and a proportional evaluation of upper body development was providedConclusion: In conclusion, it was found that measuring BMI by mesosternale and assessing it using the chest circumference/height ratio contributes to more precise classification of body composition, especially in physically active populations, and offers a multidimensional assessment model applicable in the fields of sports science and clinical anthropometry.