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Overweight athlete: fact or fiction?
Satya S Jonnalagadda1, Robert Skinner, Leah Moore
1Department of Nutrition, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303-3082, USA. sjonn@gsu.edu <sjonn@gsu.edu>
Current Sports Medicine Reports
|July 3, 2004
Summary
Body Mass Index (BMI) can misclassify athletes due to lean mass. Both BMI and body composition are vital for accurate weight assessment in athletes, requiring individualized goals and expert nutritional guidance.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Exercise Physiology
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- Appropriate body weight is crucial for optimal athletic performance.
- Body Mass Index (BMI) is a common metric for weight classification.
- BMI may inaccurately classify athletes as overweight due to higher lean body mass.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the limitations of BMI in assessing athlete weight.
- To advocate for a combined approach using BMI and body composition analysis.
- To emphasize individualized weight goals and nutritional strategies for athletes.
Main Methods:
- Review of current practices in athlete weight assessment.
- Discussion of the physiological differences in athletes affecting BMI.
- Emphasis on collaborative goal-setting involving athletes, coaches, and nutrition experts.
Main Results:
- BMI alone can lead to misclassification of athletes.
- Body composition assessment provides a more accurate picture of an athlete's weight status.
- Individualized weight goals, considering sport-specific demands, are essential.
Conclusions:
- A dual approach combining BMI and body composition is recommended for athletes.
- Weight management strategies must be tailored to individual athletes.
- Collaboration with registered dietitians is key for effective and healthy weight management in sports.