Students belong to a group of high health risks, since during this period of development, young people are under the influence of the inevitable processes of active physiological restructuring of the body and intensive socialization of the individual. The purpose of the study is the anthropometric indicators and indices of physical development of 1648 girls aged 17-21 of the Republic Mordovia. Anthropometric measurements included the determination of the following parameters: body weight, standing and sitting body length, circumference of the chest, shoulder, forearm, wrist, thigh, abdomen, buttocks, lower leg, ankles. The comprehensive research program was designed in such a way that it was possible to calculate body surface areas, weight and height values, body strength indices and body proportionality indices. It was found that in the studied population, girls have a wide face, a narrow long nose, and a medium-sized skull. The majority of the population is characterized by the absence of excess body weight. Girls have a normosthenic type of constitution, have an average level of physical development, an average level of body density. Among female students, a mesomorphic type of physique is common with proportional body development, a normal proportion of the bone component and a slightly increased proportion of fat and muscle components. The inversion and dysplasia of sexual dimorphism revealed in the course of the study may be a response of a more labile female body to the negative influences of social and environmental factors.

The study of the basic laws of the formation of students' physical health is of great importance for the state not only as an economic, but also as a labor and defense potential of the country. The study of age dynamics is necessary also for the development of regional standards of physical development, physical fitness of population of young people, as well as for improving the system of health-saving technologies in the organization and conduct of the educational process in educational institutions. The aim of the study was to study the level of physical development and body composition of 1612 young men aged 17-21 living in the Republic of Mordovia. In the course of the work, 48 absolute anthropometric indicators were analyzed, characterizing the anatomical and functional characteristics of an individual. It was found that among young people a normosthenic type of constitution with a proportional chest, with a medium-sized head and andromorph body type is widespread. In the population of student’s males, the prevalence of persons with an average level of physical development, an average value of the vital index is characteristic, however, the strength index of the hand in most of the studied had an indicator below normal. The majority of students showed a normal body mass index with an average level of body density, with an increased relative mass of fat and muscle components and a reduced mass of the bone component, which is possibly a consequence of the body's response to the negative influences of environmental factors, as well as reduced motor activity and insufficient physical activity.