Effect of 2-month detraining on body composition and insulin sensitivity in young female dancers

To investigate the effect of 2-month detraining on body composition and glucose tolerance for female collegiate dancers.

Longitudinal study of dancers who stopped their regular training for 2 months.

16 female collegiate dancers (age: 19.7 +/-0.11 year, body mass index (BMI): 20.7 +/- 0.56 kg/m(2)).

BMI, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), insulin response during OGTT, and blood lipids at baseline and after a 2-month detraining.

Glucose tolerance was not significantly affected by the detraining, but the fasted insulin and insulin levels during OGTT were significantly elevated. Fasted free fatty acid (FFA) and triglyceride levels were significantly elevated without change in cholesterol level. BMI was not significantly altered during this detraining period, but the waist circumference and WHR ratio were significantly elevated.

Only a 2-month cessation of regular training in female dancers significantly elevated basal and postprandial insulin levels and triglycerides, and were associated with increased basal FFA. This result appears to be partly related to the increased central fatness but not body mass, indicating that the early development of obesity due to reduced physical activity may not necessarily reflect on weight status. A warning is thus warranted for those young women who depend on weight measurement for body fat status monitoring.