ARTICLE IX  

MALAYSIAN JOURNAL OF
NUTRITION
Official publication of the Nutrition Society of Malaysia

December 1999, Volume 5 No. 1&2

Mal J Nutr 5:79-86, 1999.
http://nutriweb.org.my/publications/mjn005/mjn5n12_009.pdf

Antropometric measurements and body composition of English and Malaysian footballers

Reeves SL¹, Poh BK³, Brown M¹, Tizzard NH² and Ismail MN^3
1 Department of Sports Health and Excercise Science, St Mary's University Colledge, Strawberry Hill, Twickenham, TW1 4SX, United Kingdom.
² Marborough School, Lodon Road, Iseworth, TW4 5RT, United Kingdom.
³ Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Allied Health  Science, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 50300 Kuala Lumpur.

ABSTRACT   (Full Article)
This comparative study was conducted to determine the anthropometric measurements and body composition of football teams in the UK and Malaysia. A total of 32 footballers from two teams were studied. The teams were the St Mary’s University team (UK) and the Selangor Reserved League team. The height and body weight of the subjects were measured using SECA digital balance with height attachment. Skinfold thickness measurements were taken using Harpenden skinfold callipers at four sites (biceps, triceps, subscapular and suprailiac) and the VO₂max of the subjects was estimated by participation in a multi-stage 20m shuttle-run test. The UK team were significantly heavier (p<0.05), taller (p<0.05) and had a higher body fat content (p<0.05) than their Malaysian counterpart. There was no significant difference in VO₂ max between the two teams, with the Malaysians recording a slightly higher VO₂ max. With regard to playing position, the defenders were found to be the most physically robust and yet had the highest VO₂ max, whilst the midfielders had the lightest body weights. More data on the body composition and nutritional status of Malaysian footballers would allow adjustments to be made to dietary intakes and training levels in order to obtain maximum performance throughout the football season.