Body composition of professional football (soccer) players determined by dual X-ray absorptiometry

• Autores: Wittich, Ana; Oliveri, María Beatriz; Rotemberg, Enrique; Mautalen, Carlos Alfredo
• Año de publicación: 2001
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Materia: BODY COMPOSITION; DUAL X-RAY ABSORPTIOMETRY; FAT MASS; FOOTBALL; LEAN MASS
• Institución: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas

A three-compartment body composition analysis of 42 professional football (soccer) players and 33 age- and body mass index-matched control subjects was determined by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The equipment provided a direct measurement of fat, lean, and bone mass. Fat mass was significantly higher in the controls subjects whereas lean mass and bone mass were markedly higher in the players. The percentage of body weight fat varied from 6.1 to 19.5% in the football players and from 9.1 to 29.9% in the control subjects. The respective averages were 12.0 ± 3.1 and 19.2 ± 5.6% (p < 0.001). The midfielders had a significantly higher percentage of fat (13.6 ± 3.3%) than backs of forwards (11.1 ± 2.8 and 11.0 ± 2.3%, p < 0.05 and p < 0.06, respectively). In the football players, the correlation between age and fat mass was significant (r = 0.53, p < 0.001), whereas there was no correlation between fat and age in the control subjects (r = 0.13, p > 0.1). This article provides, for the first time, DXA analysis of body composition of football players in relation to their age and function. The results should be of interest to coaches because they will help improve athletes' performance.
Fil: Wittich, Ana. No especifíca;
Fil: Oliveri, María Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo; Argentina
Fil: Rotemberg, Enrique. No especifíca;
Fil: Mautalen, Carlos Alfredo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina