Perfil antropométrico e composição corporal de jogadores juniores amadores de futebol de uma cidade do sudoeste do Paraná: comparação entre categorias de base e posição de jogo

Youth football requires rigorous monitoring of growth and body composition to optimize athletic performance and health. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the anthropometric profile of amateur youth football players from a municipality in southwestern Paraná, stratified by age categories and playing positions. A cross-sectional, quantitative study was conducted using secondary data from nutritional records of 27 male athletes (aged 8 to 17 years), divided into U-13, U-15, and U-17 categories, treated between March 2024 and December 2025. Data collected included sociodemographic information, sports practice characteristics, anthropometrics (weight, height, circumferences, and skinfolds), and body composition (body fat percentage obtained via skinfolds and bioelectrical impedance, fat-free mass, and fat mass). Data were analyzed using Jamovi software (v. 2.3.2.8), employing ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests (p<0.05). The U-13 category presented significantly lower values for weight, height, body mass index (BMI), fat-free mass (FFM), and body circumferences compared to the U-15 and U-17 categories. No statistical differences were identified for body fat percentage and skinfolds between categories or playing positions. Most athletes showed age-appropriate height and BMI, although cases of excess weight were identified in the early categories. The athletes' anthropometric profile was influenced by the biological maturation process, with an increase in FFM in the upper categories.