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Adiposity and regional body fat distribution in physically active young and middle-aged women
K P Davy1, S L Evans, E T Stevenson
1Department of Kinesiology, University of Colorado, Boulder 80309, USA. davy@ucsu.Colorado.edu
Objective:
To test the hypothesis that age does not directly influence body composition or regional body fat distribution throughout middle age in women.
Design:
Cross-sectional.
Subjects:
Thirty female endurance athletes of similar competitive ranking ranging in age from 23-56 years.
Measurements:
Body composition (hydrodensitometry and skinfolds) and regional body fat distribution (waist and hip circumference and tricep, subscapular, suprailiac, abdomen and thigh skinfolds); maximal oxygen uptake.
Results:
In contrast to the age-related increases in total and regional body fat levels and decreases in fat-free mass in the general population of women, there were no significant trends for changes in body composition or regional body fat distribution in our cross-section of highly physically active subjects with age.
Conclusion:
These findings suggest that age-related increases in total body fat and decreases in fat-free mass may be a result of reduced chronic physical activity levels with age rather than an inevitable consequence of the aging process.