The aim of this study was to analyze the morphological profile of elite Brazilian bodybuilders who participated in the XXVII Brazilian Championship of Body Building. A total of 28 male athletes (27.0 ± 7.4 years; 78.2 ± 8.7 kg; 170.1 ± 6.9cm), were voluntarily assessed. Anthropometric measures (body mass, stature, skinfolds thickness, perimeters and diameters) were collected from all subjects in the morning shift, at the competition day. The estimated values of the body composition of the athletes were the following: relative body fat, 5.8 ± 0.5%; lean body mass, 73.6 ± 8.2 kg; muscular mass, 54.3 ± 6.7 kg and arm muscular area, 108.51 ± 15.19 cm². Conversely, the mean somatotype found was: endomorphy, 1.11 ± 0.29; mesomorphy, 8.26 ± 0.67; ectomorphy, 0.95 ± 0.53 (balanced mesomorphy). Besides high levels of muscular development (~70%) and low body fat buildup, the bodybuilders also presented uniformity in the accumulation of located fat. Predominance of the mesophormic component confirmed muscular structure remarkably developed found in the investigated athletes. Therefore, the results of the present study demonstrate that elite body building athletes present large amount of muscular volume, as well as excellent muscular definition, proportionality and symmetry at the day of the competition.
body building; anthropometry; somatotype; body composition; weight training
