The non-linear relationship between sum of 7 skinfolds and fat and lean mass in elite swimmers

Influence of Anthropometric Characteristics on Ice Swimming Performance-The IISA Ice Mile and Ice Km

Ice swimming following the rules of IISA (International Ice Swimming Association) is a recent sports discipline starting in 2009. Since then, hundreds of athletes have completed an Ice Mile or an Ice Km in water colder than 5 °C. This study aimed to expand our knowledge about swimmers completing an Ice Mile or an Ice Km regarding the influence of anthropometric characteristics (i.e., body mass, body height, and body mass index, BMI) on performance. We analyzed data from 957 swimmers in the Ice Km (590 men and 367 women) and 585 swimmers in the Ice Mile (334 men and 251 women). No differences were found for anthropometric characteristics between swimmers completing an Ice Mile and an Ice Km although water temperatures and wind chill were lower in the Ice Km than in the Ice Mile. Men were faster than women in both the Ice Mile and Ice Km. Swimming speed decreased significantly with increasing age, body mass, and BMI in both women and men in both the Ice Mile and Ice Km. Body height was positively correlated to swimming speed in women in the Ice Km. Air temperature was significantly and negatively related to swimming speed in the Ice Km but not in the Ice Mile. Water temperature was not associated with swimming speed in men in both the Ice Mile and Ice Km but significantly and negatively in women in Ice Km. In summary, swimmers intending to complete an Ice Mile or an Ice Km do not need to have a high body mass and/or a high BMI to swim these distances fast.

Simple anthropometry-based calculations to monitor body composition in athletes: Scoping review and reference values

BACKGROUND

Kinanthropometry offers to exercise and health professionals a standardized procedure of acquiring surface anatomical measurements that might be used to track changes in body composition.

AIM

To describe simple anthropometric indices to monitor body composition changes in amateur and elite athletes, and to provide reference values during the competition phase.

METHODS

A search of articles indexed in PubMed/MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Cochrane, and SciELO databases using the string body composition AND (anthropometric OR skinfolds OR circumferences OR girth OR estimation equation) AND "body fat". Inclusion criteria were: quantitative and/or qualitative research published between 2009 and 2020, written in English or Spanish, reporting simple anthropometric indices that included skinfolds, girths, or basic measures in amateur and elite athletes.

RESULTS

A total of 51 studies (Price's index = 66.4%) met all the inclusion criteria and were included in this scoping review. Contrary to the frequent practice, the use of a regression equation might not be accurate to evaluate body composition. To avoid this, anthropometrists should base their analysis on the absolute values of the sum of skinfolds (∑S) and related variables, such as skinfold-corrected girths and lean mass index. While not definitive, because further research is required, the practical recommendations and updated reference values in competition phase provided by this review would contribute to the accurate identification of body composition changes.

CONCLUSIONS

∑S and lean mass index have been shown to be valid for monitoring changes in fat mass and fat-free mass, respectively. More research is needed to derive the lean mass index-specific coefficient for each sports population.