Evaluación de la capacidad cardiorrespiratoria y su relación con el índice de masa corporal, porcentaje de grasa y posición de juego en futbolistas juveniles de divisiones menores en Barranquilla
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Fecha
2025
Autores
Turizo Mendivil, Carlos Enrique
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Ediciones Universidad Simón Bolívar
Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud
Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud
Resumen
El fútbol juvenil en Barranquilla se desarrolla en un contexto de alta exigencia física y climática, donde las condiciones cálidas y húmedas propias de la región imponen demandas adicionales sobre la capacidad cardiorrespiratoria de los jugadores. En etapas formativas, la eficiencia aeróbica adquiere un papel fundamental que le permite al atleta sostener esfuerzos repetidos, además de recuperarse rápidamente entre acciones intensas y algo muy importante como la prevención de lesiones que se asocian a la fatiga. A pesar de todo esto, en el Caribe colombiano, aún existe poca evidencia que permita comprender cómo se relacionan la capacidad cardiorrespiratoria, la composición corporal y la posición de juego en futbolistas jóvenes que entrenan bajo estas condiciones. Al encontrar este vacío se motivó a la realización de este estudio, con el objetivo general que fue evaluar la capacidad cardiorrespiratoria y su relación con el índice de masa corporal, el porcentaje de grasa y la posición de juego en futbolistas juveniles pertenecientes a las divisiones menores de Barranquilla F.C. y Junior F.C. Para ello, se plantearon objetivos específicos dirigidos a caracterizar la población desde variables sociodemográficas y deportivas, establecer su IMC y porcentaje de grasa, determinar el VO₂ estimado mediante una prueba de campo de 1000 metros, analizar la relación entre el rendimiento aeróbico y las variables antropométricas, y finalmente comparar la capacidad cardiorrespiratoria según la posición ocupada en el terreno de juego.
El estudio se desarrolló entre julio y octubre de 2025 bajo un enfoque cuantitativo, de tipo observacional y corte transversal. La muestra estuvo conformada por 67 futbolistas hombres, entre los 15 y 20 años, pertenecientes a las categorías Sub-17 y Sub-20 de los dos clubes profesionales de la ciudad. En este estudio se inició con el registro de las variables sociodemográficas como edad, región de procedencia, área de residencia y estrato socioeconómico, también de variables deportivas relacionadas con posición de juego, frecuencia de entrenamiento, participación en torneos y categoría competitiva. La composición corporal se evaluó mediante mediciones de peso, talla, índice de masa corporal y porcentaje de grasa corporal, mientras que la capacidad cardiorrespiratoria se estimó a través de la prueba de
1000 metros, y se utilizó una fórmula previamente validada en población joven para calcular el VO₂ estimado. Las mediciones que se realizaron en campo se dieron bajo condiciones ambientales controladas, procurando mantener procedimientos estandarizados para garantizar confiabilidad. Finalmente, se aplicaron análisis estadísticos descriptivos, pruebas de correlación para explorar asociaciones entre variables y pruebas comparativas para examinar diferencias en el VO₂ estimado según la posición de juego.
Los resultados mostraron que la mayoría de los jugadores pertenecían a estratos socioeconómicos bajos y medios algo que es un común denominador en este tipo de actividades, que residían en zonas urbanas y además de eso se encontraban en un rango de edad donde aún confluyen procesos de maduración física. La distribución por posiciones reveló una mayor proporción de defensas y volantes, seguidos por delanteros y un número menor de arqueros. En cuanto a la composición corporal, la muestra presentó valores de IMC dentro del rango normal y porcentajes de grasa que se alinean con lo común en futbolistas juveniles y sobre todo en programas de formación. Con relación a la capacidad cardiorrespiratoria, el VO₂ estimado promedio fue de aproximadamente 59 ml/kg/min, un valor que se considera alto y adecuado para los niveles competitivos de la población estudiada. La correlación entre el VO₂ estimado y el % de grasa reveló una asociación inversa débil pero significativa, lo que sugiere que, a mayor adiposidad, el rendimiento aeróbico tiende a disminuir, aunque este efecto no es determinante. Por el contrario, el IMC no mostró correlación significativa con el VO₂ estimado, lo cual es consistente con la idea de que el IMC, al no diferenciar entre masa magra y masa grasa, tiene poca sensibilidad para explicar el rendimiento aeróbico en deportistas jóvenes. Finalmente, al realizar el análisis comparativo por posición no mostró diferencias significativas en el VO₂ estimado entre defensas, volantes y delanteros, lo que indica que, en estas categorías juveniles, los jugadores de campo presentan similitud en demandas aeróbicas y esto se da por la naturaleza del entrenamiento y las cargas relativamente homogéneas para estas posiciones. La posición de arquero, aunque con un comportamiento algo más heterogéneo, no pudo analizarse con profundidad por el reducido tamaño del grupo.
En conjunto, estos hallazgos nos llevan a la conslusión que los futbolistas juveniles evaluados presentan una buena capacidad cardiorrespiratoria, respaldada por valores elevados de VO₂ estimado y patrones de composición corporal adecuados para su edad y nivel competitivo. Lo que se observó de manera mas relevante fue la asociación negativa entre el porcentaje de grasa y el VO₂ estimado, lo que invita a darle mayor importancia en tener el control sobre el peso graso en etapas formativas como estrategia para optimizar el rendimiento aeróbico y prevenir riesgos asociados a la fatiga. En contraste, el IMC se mostró como un indicador poco útil para interpretar el desempeño cardiorrespiratorio en esta población. La ausencia de diferencias significativas en el VO₂ según la posición de juego sugiere que, en estas edades, los futbolistas de campo comparten demandas físicas similares, posiblemente influenciadas por cargas de entrenamiento uniformes. Estos resultados nos permiten ver la necesidad de que los clubes realicen valoraciones periódicas de la capacidad aeróbica y de la composición corporal, implementando estrategias de educación nutricional y continúen promoviendo entrenamientos aeróbicos intermitentes adecuados al ambiente cálido de Barranquilla. Asimismo, enfatizan la importancia de generar más estudios locales para consolidar referentes regionales que fortalezcan la formación deportiva en el Caribe colombiano.
outh football in Barranquilla takes place under demanding physical and environmental conditions, where the heat and humidity characteristic of the Caribbean region impose additional strain on the cardiorespiratory capacity of young players. At these formative ages, aerobic fitness becomes essential not only for sustaining repeated high-intensity efforts and recovering quickly between actions but also for reducing fatigue-related injuries, which are frequent in athletes who train and compete at high loads. Despite the importance of this physiological component, Colombia—and particularly the Caribbean region—still lacks sufficient evidence to understand how aerobic capacity relates to body composition and playing position in youth footballers who train under warm-weather conditions. This gap motivated the present study, whose general objective was to evaluate the cardiorespiratory capacity and its relationship with body mass index, body fat percentage, and playing position in youth players from the development divisions of Barranquilla F.C. and Junior F.C. The study also aimed to characterize the athletes using sociodemographic and sport-related variables, determine their BMI and body fat levels, estimate VO₂ through a 1000-meter field test, analyze the relationship between aerobic performance and anthropometric indicators, and compare VO₂ values across different field positions. The research was conducted between July and October 2025 under a quantitative, observational, cross-sectional design. A total of 67 male players aged 15–20 years, belonging to U17 and U20 categories from the two professional clubs in Barranquilla, participated in the study. Sociodemographic variables included age, region of origin, residential area, and socioeconomic status, while sport-related variables included playing position, training frequency, tournament participation, and competitive category. Body composition was assessed through weight, height, BMI, and body fat percentage, and cardiorespiratory capacity was estimated using a standardized 1000-meter field test with a validated predictive equation for VO₂. All measurements were performed in controlled field conditions following standardized procedures to ensure consistency. Statistical analyses included descriptive measures, correlation tests to explore associations between variables, and group comparison tests to examine whether VO₂ differed by playing position. Results showed that most players came from low- to middle-income households, lived in urban areas, and fell within an age group where physiological maturation is still ongoing. Defenders and midfielders represented the majority of the sample, followed by forwards and a small number of goalkeepers. BMI values fell within the normal range, and body fat percentages were consistent with expected profiles for youth footballers enrolled in structured training programs. The average estimated VO₂ was approximately 59 ml/kg/min, indicating a high level of aerobic performance appropriate for the competitive demands faced by these athletes. The correlation analysis revealed a weak but significant inverse association between VO₂ and body fat percentage, suggesting that higher adiposity tends to be accompanied by lower aerobic capacity, although the effect is modest. In contrast, BMI showed no significant relationship with VO₂, reinforcing the idea that BMI lacks sensitivity in athletic populations because it does not distinguish between lean and fat mass. When comparing aerobic capacity by playing position, no significant differences were found among defenders, midfielders, and forwards, indicating that field players share similar aerobic demands at these developmental ages, possibly due to relatively uniform training loads across positions. Goalkeepers showed greater variability, although the small sample size prevented deeper statistical analysis. Overall, the findings indicate that the youth footballers evaluated present a solid level of cardiorespiratory fitness, supported by high VO₂ estimates and favorable body composition indicators for their age and competitive level. The most notable relationship observed was the inverse association between VO₂ and body fat percentage, underscoring the importance of monitoring fat mass during formative years to optimize aerobic performance and reduce fatigue-related risks. Conversely, BMI proved to be a limited predictor of aerobic fitness in this population. The absence of significant differences in VO₂ by playing position suggests that, at these ages, field players may be exposed to similar physical demands, possibly influenced by training structures rather than tactical specialization. These findings highlight the need for clubs to conduct regular assessments of aerobic capacity and body composition, implement nutritional education strategies, and continue promoting well-designed aerobic intermittent training tailored to the warm environment of Barranquilla. Additionally, the study emphasizes the importance of generating more local research to establish regional benchmarks that strengthen youth football development in the Colombian Caribbean.
outh football in Barranquilla takes place under demanding physical and environmental conditions, where the heat and humidity characteristic of the Caribbean region impose additional strain on the cardiorespiratory capacity of young players. At these formative ages, aerobic fitness becomes essential not only for sustaining repeated high-intensity efforts and recovering quickly between actions but also for reducing fatigue-related injuries, which are frequent in athletes who train and compete at high loads. Despite the importance of this physiological component, Colombia—and particularly the Caribbean region—still lacks sufficient evidence to understand how aerobic capacity relates to body composition and playing position in youth footballers who train under warm-weather conditions. This gap motivated the present study, whose general objective was to evaluate the cardiorespiratory capacity and its relationship with body mass index, body fat percentage, and playing position in youth players from the development divisions of Barranquilla F.C. and Junior F.C. The study also aimed to characterize the athletes using sociodemographic and sport-related variables, determine their BMI and body fat levels, estimate VO₂ through a 1000-meter field test, analyze the relationship between aerobic performance and anthropometric indicators, and compare VO₂ values across different field positions. The research was conducted between July and October 2025 under a quantitative, observational, cross-sectional design. A total of 67 male players aged 15–20 years, belonging to U17 and U20 categories from the two professional clubs in Barranquilla, participated in the study. Sociodemographic variables included age, region of origin, residential area, and socioeconomic status, while sport-related variables included playing position, training frequency, tournament participation, and competitive category. Body composition was assessed through weight, height, BMI, and body fat percentage, and cardiorespiratory capacity was estimated using a standardized 1000-meter field test with a validated predictive equation for VO₂. All measurements were performed in controlled field conditions following standardized procedures to ensure consistency. Statistical analyses included descriptive measures, correlation tests to explore associations between variables, and group comparison tests to examine whether VO₂ differed by playing position. Results showed that most players came from low- to middle-income households, lived in urban areas, and fell within an age group where physiological maturation is still ongoing. Defenders and midfielders represented the majority of the sample, followed by forwards and a small number of goalkeepers. BMI values fell within the normal range, and body fat percentages were consistent with expected profiles for youth footballers enrolled in structured training programs. The average estimated VO₂ was approximately 59 ml/kg/min, indicating a high level of aerobic performance appropriate for the competitive demands faced by these athletes. The correlation analysis revealed a weak but significant inverse association between VO₂ and body fat percentage, suggesting that higher adiposity tends to be accompanied by lower aerobic capacity, although the effect is modest. In contrast, BMI showed no significant relationship with VO₂, reinforcing the idea that BMI lacks sensitivity in athletic populations because it does not distinguish between lean and fat mass. When comparing aerobic capacity by playing position, no significant differences were found among defenders, midfielders, and forwards, indicating that field players share similar aerobic demands at these developmental ages, possibly due to relatively uniform training loads across positions. Goalkeepers showed greater variability, although the small sample size prevented deeper statistical analysis. Overall, the findings indicate that the youth footballers evaluated present a solid level of cardiorespiratory fitness, supported by high VO₂ estimates and favorable body composition indicators for their age and competitive level. The most notable relationship observed was the inverse association between VO₂ and body fat percentage, underscoring the importance of monitoring fat mass during formative years to optimize aerobic performance and reduce fatigue-related risks. Conversely, BMI proved to be a limited predictor of aerobic fitness in this population. The absence of significant differences in VO₂ by playing position suggests that, at these ages, field players may be exposed to similar physical demands, possibly influenced by training structures rather than tactical specialization. These findings highlight the need for clubs to conduct regular assessments of aerobic capacity and body composition, implement nutritional education strategies, and continue promoting well-designed aerobic intermittent training tailored to the warm environment of Barranquilla. Additionally, the study emphasizes the importance of generating more local research to establish regional benchmarks that strengthen youth football development in the Colombian Caribbean.
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Palabras clave
Capacidad cardiovascular, Fútbol, Rendimiento atlético