Adiposity and regional body fat distribution in physically active young and middle-aged women.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that age does not directly influence body composition or regional body fat distribution throughout middle age in women.


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
Thirty female endurance athletes of similar competitive ranking ranging in age from 23-56 years.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Davy
K P
KP
Department of Kinesiology, University of Colorado, Boulder 80309, USA. davy@ucsu.Colorado.edu
Evans
S L
SL
Stevenson
E T
ET
Seals
D R
DR
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D001824:Body Constitution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D012885:Skinfold Thickness