title: Body composition and cardiac dimensions in elite rhythmic gymnasts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rhythmic gymnasts are often believed to be a population at risk of malnutrition because of their tendency to keep a low weight and a lean appearance for better athletic performance, and because they start intensive training at a very young age. The purpose of this study was to evaluate in adolescent elite gymnasts the effects of physical activity on body composition and cardiac morphology and function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen national level rhythmic gymnasts and 16 control adolescent female underwent anthropometric measurements, bioelectric impedance and echocardiography to assess body composition and cardiac morphology and function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As compared to controls, gymnasts had lower body mass index (16.9±1.1 vs. 18.7±1.0, P<0.001), fatty mass (14.2±4.5 vs. 15.8±2.9 %, P<0.05) and greater fat-free mass (84.0±4.7 vs. 80.5±5.0 %, P<0.05), left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (4.7±0.4 vs. 4.4±0.3 cm) and left ventricular mass, as absolute (132.8±21.2 vs. 112.5±22.8 g, P<0.01) and indexed (44.5±9.3 vs. 36.1±8.2 g/m2.7, P<0.01). Left ventricular mass was directly related to fat-free mass as absolute (r=0.37, P<0.05) and indexed (r=0.43, P<0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Body composition analysis showed a lower percentage of body fat in the gymnasts, together with a higher percentage of fat-free mass. Echocardiographic findings indicate that elite rhythmic gymnastics present left ventricular remodeling as training-induced cardiac adaptation. Intensive training, dietary attitude and evident leanness of rhythmic gymnasts are not associated with cardiac abnormalities, as it is the case of pathological leanness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy - f.franzoni@int.med.unipi.it.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Galetta
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Franzoni
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: D'alessandro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piazza
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tocchini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fallahi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antonelli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cupisti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Santoro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001823:Body Composition; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006173:Gymnastics; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans