Boby mass index and waist girth from CBF football referees

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the BMI and the waist girth as overweight indicators, as well as the risk for the development of diseases related to central body fat in soccer referees from the Brazilian Confederation of Football (CBF) in Paraná. Weigh, height, three girth and seven skin folds were measured. The mean value for BMI was 24.78 ± 2.44 kg/m² (n=27). 56 % of the referees have BMI values considered normal (23.04 ± 1.49) and 44% have values equal or higher than 25 kg/m² (26,95 ± 1.40). The mean waist girth value was 86.06 ± 5.67 cm. Since values over 102 cm were not observed, none of the referees showed risk for heart disease development, according to the ACSM (2003) for BMI and central body fat excess.