title: Influence of increased body mass and body composition on cycling anaerobic power.
abstract: Recent evidence suggests that not only body fat (BF) but high lean body mass (HLBM) adversely affects aerobic performance and may reduce aerobic endurance performance as well. However, the influence of body composition on anaerobic performance remains controversial. This study aimed to examine the effects of increased body mass (BM) and body composition on cycling anaerobic power. Peak power (PP) and mean power (MP) measurements were conducted in 2 groups of men with similar total BM but different body compositions resulting from (a) high level of BF [HBF group] or (b) high level of lean body mass [HLBM group] and in a control group. Peak power and MP were calculated in absolute values, relative to BM and lean body mass (LBM), and using allometric scaling. Absolute PP and MP were significantly higher in the HLBM group compared with the control and HBF groups. However, PP and MP relative to BM and using allometric scaling were similar in the HLBM and control groups, yet significantly higher than in the HBF group. There were no significant differences between groups in PP and MP when presented relative to LBM. Therefore, it seems that it is not BM but rather body composition that affects PP. Increased BM, resulting from increased LBM, does not adversely affect cycling anaerobic power, but a BM increase resulting from an increase in BF may adversely affect PP. Therefore, coaches and athletes should avoid excess BF to maximize cycling anaerobic power.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, University of Physical Education, Krakow, Poland; 2Department of Clinical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Rehabilitation, University of Physical Education, Krakow, Poland; 3Department of Sports Medicine and Human Nutrition, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, University of Physical Education, Krakow, Poland; and 4Department of Kinesiology, California State University, Fullerton, California.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maciejczyk
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiecek
authors.forename: Jadwiga
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szymura
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Szygula
authors.forename: Lee E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult