Body composition profiles of female acrobatic gymnasts of different age categories

Abstract

Body composition, overweight or underweight, and adipose tissue are factors that determine social health status. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish the body composition profile, adiposity distribution and body mass index (BMI) of acrobatic gymnasts of different age categories. A total of 129 women participated, divided by role: tops (n=54; X=11.23 years; SD=3.04) and bases (n=75; X=14.46 years; SD=2.08), and age category. Anthropometric measurements including skinfolds were collected, and BMI, body fat percentages through different validated formulas, and muscle, bone and remainder percentages were calculated. Descriptive and comparative analyses among categories were carried out. The results showed no significant differences in any variable among tops. BMI was only above the 50th percentile in the youngest gymnasts of age group 1 and in 9-year-old gymnasts of age group 4. There were significant differences among bases. In general, adipose tissue values were higher in senior gymnasts, but no linear relationship among categories was established. For BMI, almost all categories were above the 50th percentile, and only 16-year-old gymnasts of age group 3 presented grade 1 thinness. The tops group showed a higher risk of presenting extreme thinness. Furthermore, no clear relationship was found between body composition and age category.