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

WITTICH AC; OLIVERI BEATRIZ; ROTEMBERG E; MAUTALEN C

journal of clinical densitometry

Elsevier

Año: 2001 vol. 4 p. 51 - 55

<!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:ES-AR;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:70.85pt 3.0cm 70.85pt 3.0cm; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> Abstract A three-compartinent body composition analysis of 42 professional football (soccer) players and 33 age— and body mass indcX—1"natched 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 percent- age of body weight fat varied l`rom 6.1 to 19.5% in the football players and from 9.1 to 29.9% in the con- trol subjects. The respective averages were 12.0 J; 3.1 and 19.2 i 5.6% tp < 0.001). The midfielders had a ‘ significantly higher percentage of fat (13.6 i 3.3%) than backs or forwards (1 1.1 i 2.8 and 1 1.0 1 2.3%, p < 0.05 and p < 0.06, respectively). In the 1`ootball players, the correlation between age and l`at mass was sig- niiicant tr : 0.53, p < 0.001), whereas there was no coirelation between fat and age in the control subjects (r : 0.13, p > 0.1). This article provides, for the first time, DXA analysis ol` body composition ol` football players in relation to their age and function. The results should be of interest to coaches because they will help improve athietes’ performance. Key Wirdss Body composition; dual X—ray absorptiometry; fat mass; lean mass; football,