Body Composition in Sports and Health

This 24-week randomized controlled trial study evaluated the effects of two interactive cognitive–motor programs on body composition, lower-body strength, and processing speed in community dwellings at risk of falling. Forty-eight participants (75.0 ± 5.4 years) were allocated into EG1 (psychomotor intervention program), EG2 (combined program (psychomotor intervention + whole-body vibration)), and a control group. EG programs induced significant improvements in bone mass, lower-body strength, and processing speed (p < 0.05), with similar treatment effects on lower-body strength and processing speed and higher bone mineral content and density within EG2. The fall rate decreased in EG1 (44.2%) and EG2 (63%) (p < 0.05). After the 12-week no-intervention follow-up, improvements in lower-body strength were reversed in both EGs, but those in processing speed were maintained, mainly in EG2 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, both programs were accepted and well tolerated. The combined program led to additional benefits in bone mass. Both programs positively impacted physical and cognitive risk factors for falls and injuries. They induced similar improvements in lower-body strength and processing speed, decreasing the fall rate. These findings suggest that both programs are successful for fall and injury prevention in the studied population. Full article

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Tetraselmis chuii (TC) microalgae supplementation for sixty days on hematological, anthropometric and hormonal parameters in healthy young men. Forty-six men divided into a placebo group (PG; n = 16; 20.77 ± 2.7 years; 72.14 ± 7.18 kg; 1.76 ± 0.07 m), a group supplemented with 25 mg/day of TC (SG 25; n = 15; 20.40 ± 1.40 years; 71.28 ± 8.26 kg; 1.76 ± 0.05 m) and another group supplemented with 200 mg/day of TC (SG 200; n = 15; 20.83 ± 2.45 years; 72.30 ± 11.13 kg; 1.77 ± 0.08 m) participated in this double-blind study. PG ingested 200 mg/day of lactose powder. Participants underwent 4 assessments (baseline, month 1, month 2 and desadaptation) separated in time by an interval of thirty days. At SG 25 and SG 200, significant increases in percent muscle mass, erythropoietin, insulin-like growth factor 1, free testosterone, leukocytes, neutrophils and lymphocytes were observed (p < 0.05). Decreases in the levels of percent fat mass, platelets, hematocrit and mean corpuscular hemoglobin also occurred in these groups (p < 0.05). TC supplementation induced favorable changes on anthropometric, hematological and hormonal levels. In view of the data, it seems that the most effective dose was 25 mg/day of TC. Full article

This study aims to examine sex-specific differences in body composition and lower extremity fat distribution and their association with physical performance among healthy older adults. The pilot study comprises 40 subjects (20 men and 20 women) matched by age and body mass index. The participants undergo dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, magnetic resonance imaging, and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-MRS) to assess body composition and lower extremity fat distribution. ¹H-MRS is used to measure the extramyocellular lipid (EMCL) and intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) contents of the lower leg muscles (soleus and tibialis anterior) at the maximum circumference of the calf after overnight fasting. The tibialis anterior IMCL, as assessed by ¹H-MRS, is negatively associated with the five-times sit-to-stand test scores (r_s = 0.518, p = 0.023) in men, while the soleus IMCL content is negatively associated with the timed up-and-go test scores (r_s = 0.472, p = 0.048) in women. However, the soleus EMCL content is positively associated with the five-times sit-to-stand test scores (r_s = −0.488, p = 0.040) in women, but this association is not statistically significant in men. This study shows an inverse correlation between IMCL content and physical performance in healthy older individuals and lower leg muscle-specific IMCL based on sex differences. Furthermore, our results suggest that greater EMCL content in the soleus and calf subcutaneous fat might affect physical performance positively in women but not men. Full article

Rising rates of obesity and osteoporosis have public health implications; hence, understanding the relationships between body composition (fat mass (FM) and lean mass (LM)) and bone mineral density (BMD) is important. The purpose of this study is to investigate these associations in a large representative sample. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey participants (n = 1717, age 44.1 ± 14.2 years) who had complete dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (total BMD g/cm², FM kg, and LM kg) and covariate data. Hierarchical linear regression models were fitted, controlling for demographic and behavioral covariates. Stratum-specific models were fitted by race, sex, and age group. Significant negative associations were found for FM and BMD (β = −0.003) and significant positive associations for LM and BMD (β = 0.007). Stratum-specific analyses by race were consistent between groups, while variations in negative association magnitudes were seen in FM for sex (males β = −0.005 vs. females β = −0.002) and age (under 45 years of age β = −0.005 vs. 45 years and older β = −0.002). Consistent positive linear associations in total and stratum-specified models between LM and BMD could suggest a potential mechanical influence on bone health. The biological mechanisms driving the magnitude variations between FM and BMD by sex and age require more investigation. Full article

Air displacement plethysmography (ADP) is fast, accurate, and reliable. Nevertheless, in about 3% of the cases, standard ADP tests provide rogue results. To spot these outliers and improve precision, repeated trials protocols have been devised, but few works have addressed their reliability. This study was conducted to evaluate the test–retest reliabilities of two known protocols and a new one, proposed here. Ninety-two healthy adults (46 men and 46 women) completed six consecutive ADP tests. To evaluate the reliability of single measurements, we used the results of the first two tests; for multiple measures protocols, we computed the test result from trials 1–3 and the retest result from trials 4–6. Bland–Altman analysis revealed that the bias and the width of the 95% interval of agreement were smaller for multiple trials than for single ones. For percent body fat (%BF)/fat-free mass, the technical error of measurement was 1% BF/0.68 kg for single trials and 0.62% BF/0.46 kg for the new protocol of multiple trials, which proved to be the most reliable. The minimal detectable change (MDC) was 2.77% BF/1.87 kg for single trials and 1.72% BF/1.26 kg for the new protocol. Full article

The bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) became a standardized technique for assessing body composition, but many factors affect the reproducibility of measurement, including body and limbs position. In spite of the fact that it is recommended for patient to be in a supine position, with arms abducted at least 30° and legs abducted at approximately 45°, a lot of authors conduct their measurements with arms and legs of patients separated to not touch the body but not strictly following the recommendations. Taking this into account, the aim of the study was to analyze the body composition results of Caucasian young normal body mass women in the follicular proliferative phase, measured for the different positions of limbs in order to compare the results obtained in the recommended position (with arms abducted at least 30° and legs abducted at approximately 45°) and in the commonly used position (not following strictly the recommendations). The study was conducted in a homogenous group of 100 adult females under the age of 30 years using BIA 101/ASE with the Bodygram Pro software and its equations by Akern Srl, Firenze, Italy, based on the measurement recommendations. The measurements were conducted (1) in a recommended position of arms abducted at least 30° and legs abducted at approximately 45° and (2) with arms spread and legs separated to not touch the body to compare the body composition assessment (fat mass, fat-free mass, body cell mass, muscle mass, water content, extracellular water content, and intracellular water content). It was stated that the results obtained for various positions of limbs were positively correlated (p < 0.0001; R > 0.5). At the same time, the statistically significant differences dependent on the position were observed for the calculated results of body cell mass (lower results for the recommended position for the results observed in kg and % of body mass; p = 0.0165 and p = 0.0075, respectively) and muscle mass (lower results for the recommended position for the results observed in kg and % of body mass; p = 0.0025 and p = 0.0011, respectively), as well as extracellular and intracellular water (higher % of total body water for the extracellular water and lower for intracellular water; p = 0.0049 and p = 0.0115, respectively), resulting from the measured resistance and reactance values. For all listed comparisons of significantly differing variables, weighted κ statistics indicated moderate agreement (values of 0.41–0.60), and the Bland–Altman plot analysis indicated no agreement (Bland–Altman index of >5%). While compared with the reference values, the major differences were observed for extracellular/intracellular water content, as, while applying a method with arms and legs separated to not touch the body (not recommended position), the extracellular water content was underestimated for 31% and intracellular water content was overestimated for 28% of participants. It may be concluded that the recommended body position of arms abducted at least 30° and legs abducted at approximately 45° should be chosen to ensure the reliability of the BIA measurements, as, while the recommendations of a body position are not followed, the results obtained may be misleading and may not reflect the actual body composition. Full article

Previous cross-sectional studies showed that immigrants from low-income to high-income countries have higher risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. We investigated the association between weight gain during the resettlement in South Korea and risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among North Korean refugees (NKRs) in this cross-sectional study. In total, 932 NKRs aged 20–80 years in South Korea voluntarily underwent health examination from 2008 to 2017. We compared the risk of MetS and its components between the weight gain group (gained ≥5 kg) and the non-weight gain group (gained <5 kg, maintained or lost body weight) during resettlement in South Korea after defection from North Korea. Multiple logistic regression analysis predicted odds ratio of MetS on the basis of weight change, adjusting for covariates and current body mass index (BMI). We also evaluated the difference in body composition of NKRs between two groups. The prevalence of MetS in the weight gain group was 26%, compared to 10% in the non-weight gain group (p-value < 0.001). The weight gain group had a two-fold higher risk of MetS than the non-weight gain group after adjusting for current BMI (odds ratio 1.875, p-value = 0.045). The prevalence of central obesity, impaired fasting glucose, elevated blood pressure, and hypertriglyceridemia were higher in the weight gain group than the non-weight gain group (36% vs. 12%, p-value < 0.001; 32% vs. 19%, p-value < 0.001; 34 vs. 25%, p-value = 0.008; 19% vs. 13%, p-value = 0.025, respectively). The analysis of body composition showed that the percentage of body fat in the weight gain group was higher than in the non-weight gain group, indicating increased fat mass rather than muscle mass in the weight gain group as their body weight increased during resettlement (33.4 ± 6.53% vs. 28.88 ± 7.40%, p < 0.005). Excess weight gain after defection from North Korea increased the risk of MetS among NKRs in South Korea. It is necessary to monitor weight change among NKRs and their effect on their metabolic health in the long term. Full article

Purpose: In this study, our purpose was to examine the relationship between skeletal muscle mass and higher-level functional capacity in female community-dwelling older adults. Participant(s) and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we targeted 55 female community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and above participating in long-term care prevention classes in Ibaraki Prefecture between 2018 and 2020. We excluded individuals with cognitive impairment and those judged as having sarcopenia. The variables of interest included age, height, weight, body mass index, skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), handgrip strength, step count, and family structure. We calculated the SMI by dividing the extremities’ total lean mass by the square of the height (in m), while the number of steps was calculated using the three-axis accelerometer Actigraph GT3X^®. We measured skeletal muscle mass via bioelectrical impedance analysis using the InBody270 body composition analyzer and muscular strength as grip strength. Results: We observed significant relationships between skeletal muscle mass and Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence (TMIG-IC) (β = 0.336, p < 0.01) and handgrip strength (β = 0.230). Conclusion: In this study, a relationship between skeletal muscle mass and higher-level functional capacity was demonstrated among elderly female community residents. Full article

There is a strong relationship between body composition and performance in male soccer players. This study aimed to display an optimal body height and weight, and body composition profile of male soccer players for four competitive age groups. This cross-sectional study included four groups: U-15 (n = 152), U-17 (n = 154), U-19 (n = 61), and seniors (n = 27). Body height and weight were measured under standard conditions, and the bioelectrical impedance analyzer (BIA) analyzed body composition. On average, soccer players in the U-15 group had significantly lower body height, weight, body mass index, skeletal muscle mass, fat-free mass, total body water and basal metabolic rate than U-17, U-19 and seniors, but a higher percentage of body fat than U-17 and U-19, p < 0.05. In addition, the results show significant non-linear increases in body height, weight and body composition as the age of soccer players increases, with the exception of the percentage of body fat mass, which tends to significantly decrease with age. The main findings of this study are that body fat mass remains stable and similar across all age groups, including in the senior squad. Full article

The health benefits of sauna baths are attracting ever-increasing interest. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of 12 high-temperature (100 °C) sauna baths on body composition of 23 healthy young men, divided into a control group (CG) and a sauna group (SG). Both groups were initially evaluated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), after which the SG experienced 12 sessions of sauna baths at high temperatures (100 °C). Initial measurements were carried out after the sauna sessions and after two weeks of decay in both groups. The muscle mass of the right leg (pre vs. decay: 9.50 (5.59) vs. 10.52 (5.15); p < 0.05; Δ 1.07%), bone mineral density (pre vs. post: 1.221 (0.35) vs. 1.315 (0.45); p < 0.05; Δ 7.7%) and bone mineral content (pre vs. post: 0.470 (0.21) vs. 0.499 (0.22); p < 0.05; Δ 6.17%) of the left leg increased in the SG after the sauna baths. It seems that exposure to heat at high temperatures could produce improvements in bone and muscle mass. Full article

The aim of this study was to identify the differences in body composition and physical fitness between children who played table tennis regularly during a two-year period compared to physically active children who were not engaged in a regular activity. Three hundred seventy-four children aged 10 to 11 years were divided into two groups: table tennis players (n = 109 boys and 73 girls) and physically active group (n = 88 boys and 104 girls). Anthropometric analysis included body mass index, skinfolds, perimeters and bone diameters. Somatotype and body composition were determined according to age-specific equations. Physical fitness assessment included hand grip dynamometry (strength), sit-and-reach test (range of movement) and maximal multistage 20 m shuttle run test (cardiovascular fitness). The result show that children who regularly played table tennis had greater bone development and superior physical fitness compared to those who were physically active but not engaged in a regular physical activity. This is the largest study to date presenting data about the potential of table tennis to benefit health in children. These results constitute an important first step in clarifying the effectiveness of table tennis as a health-promotion strategy to encourage children to undertake regular physical activity and limit sedentary behavior. Full article

Several anthropometric and performance parameters related to aerobic metabolism are associated with performance in endurance runners and are modified according to the training performed. The objective of this study was to investigate the ergospirometric and body composition changes in endurance runners during a sports season in relation to their training. Twenty highly trained men endurance runners performed an incremental test until exhaustion (initial, and at 3, 6, and 9 months) on a treadmill to determine maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂ max), second ventilatory threshold (VT₂), and their associated running speeds. Skinfolds, perimeters, and weights were measured. No changes were obtained in VO₂ max or VT₂ during the study, although their associated running speeds increased (p < 0.05) after 3 months of the study. Decreases in fat mass (p < 0.05) and muscle mass (p < 0.05) were observed at the end of the season (9 months). Changes occurred in the different skinfolds according to the characteristics of the training performed during the season. In conclusion, vVO₂ max and vVT₂ increase with a greater volume of kilometres trained and can be adversely affected by loss of muscle mass. Full article

The aim of this study was to determine the possible correlations between essential and toxic trace elements of plasma with several anthropometric and body composition parameters and performance in endurance runners. Sixty-five high-level middle and long-distance runners (21  ±  3 years; 1.77 ± 0.05 m; 64.97 ± 7.36 kg; VO₂ max. 67.55 ± 4.11 mL/min/kg) participated in the present study. Abdominal, subscapular, iliac crest, triceps, front thigh and medial calf skinfold thicknesses and an incremental test until exhaustion were recorded. Body, fat, muscle and bone mass were estimated. Plasma trace elements were analyzed with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Correlations and simple linear regression were used to assess the relationship between trace elements and several variables. Different skinfolds, fat mass, muscle mass and bone mass correlated positively and negatively with trace elements such as copper, manganese, selenium, vanadium, zinc, lithium, rubidium, strontium, arsenic, beryllium and lead. Lithium was related with performance. In conclusion, endurance training causes changes in the body concentrations of several trace elements that trigger modifications in body composition that may be interesting, if confirmed in the future, for the control of metabolic diseases such as obesity. Full article