Body composition and performance : influence of sport and gender among adolescents

• Body composition is well known to be associated with endurance performance amongst adult skiers, however the association among adolescent cross-country and alpine skiers is inadequately explored. The study sample was comprised of 145 male and female adolescent subjects (aged 15-17 years), including 48 cross-country skiers, 33 alpine skiers, and 68 control subjects. Body composition [%body fat, %lean mass, bone mineral density (g/cm2)] was measured with a dual-emission X-ray absorptiometer, and pulse and oxygen uptake were measured at three break points during incremental performance tests to determine physical fitness levels. Female cross-country and alpine skiers were found to have significantly higher %lean mass (mean difference = 7.7%, p < 0.001) and lower %body fat (mean difference = (8.1%, p < 0.001) than female control subjects. Male cross-country skiers were found to have lower %body fat (mean difference = 3.2%, p < 0.05) and higher %lean mass (mean difference = 3.3%, p < 0.01) than male alpine skiers and higher % lean mass (mean difference = 3.7%, p < 0.05) and % body fat (mean difference = 3.2%, p < 0.05) than controls. The present study found strong associations between %lean mass and the OBLA and VO2 max weight adjusted thresholds among both genders of the cross-country skiing cohort (r = 0.47-0.67, p < 0.05) and the female alpine skiing cohort (r = 0.77-0.79, p < 0.001 for all). The present study suggests that body composition is associated with physical performance already in adolescent athletes.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Idrottsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Sport and Fitness Sciences (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Sjukgymnastik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Physiotherapy (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kirurgi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Surgery (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Geriatrik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Geriatrics (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Keyword

bone mineral density

mussle mass

fat mass

gender

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)