Marija Terzic & Marina Vukotic

This research analyzed the body composition of Montenegrin boys and girls of early adolescent age, with a special focus on regional differences between the northern, central and southern regions of Montenegro. The sample included 2000 subjects (1028 boys (11.75±0.33 years) and 972 girls (11.72±0.31 years), which represents about a quarter of the population of the mentioned age group. The investigated variables were body height, body weight, percentage of body fat and body mass index (BMI, percentiles), measured by bioelectrical impedance (Omron BF511) according to ISAK standards. The results showed that boys and girls from the northern region have statistically significantly lower body height values compared to their peers from the central and southern regions. Higher BMI percentiles and a higher percentage of body fat compared to the central region were recorded in boys, while no significant differences in BMI, body weight or percentage of fat between regions were found in girls. The majority of respondents were in the category of normal nutrition (about 62 % of boys and 72 % of girls), while about a third of boys and a quarter of girls had elevated BMI values. The obtained findings indicate the existence of regional differences in body height and body composition that may be related to socioeconomic, nutritional and environmental factors. The results confirm the need for systematic monitoring of the nutritional status of children and adolescents, the development of preventive programs, and the promotion of physical activity and healthy eating habits in the school environment.

KEY WORDS: Body composition; Early adolescence; Boys; Girls.

TERZIC, M. & VUKOTIC, M. Body composition of early adolescent boys and girls in Montenegro: National analysis with the regional review. Int. J. Morphol., 44(3):1039-1046, 2026.