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Int J Sports Med 2021; 42(04): 323-335
DOI: 10.1055/a-1268-8339
Training & Testing

Competitive Performance of Kenyan Runners Compared to their Relative Body Weight and Fat

Marietta Sengeis
1   Institute of Biophysics, Medical University of Graz, Graz,
2   Sport Science, Anthropometry, Leistungssport Austria, High Performance Center, Brunn am Gebirge
,
Wolfram Müller
1   Institute of Biophysics, Medical University of Graz, Graz,
,
Paul Störchle
1   Institute of Biophysics, Medical University of Graz, Graz,
,
Alfred Fürhapter-Rieger
1   Institute of Biophysics, Medical University of Graz, Graz,
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Abstract

Body fat values obtained with various measurement methods deviate substantially in many cases. The standardised brightness-mode ultrasound method was used in 32 Kenyan elite long-distance runners to measure subcutaneous adipose tissue thicknesses at an accuracy and reliability level not reached by any other method. Subcutaneous adipose tissue forms the dominating part of body fat. Additionally, body mass (m), height (h), sitting height (s), leg length, and the mass index MI1 =0.53m/(hs) were determined. MI1 considers leg length, which the body mass index ignores. MI1 values of all participants were higher than their body mass indices. Both indices for relative body weight were within narrow ranges, although thickness sums of subcutaneous adipose tissue deviated strongly (women: 20–82 mm; men: 3–36 mm). Men had 2.1 times more embedded fasciae in the subcutaneous adipose tissue. In the subgroup with personal best times below world record time plus 10%, no correlation between performance and body mass index was found, and there was also no correlation with sums of subcutaneous adipose tissue thicknesses. Within the data ranges found here, extremely low relative body weight or low body fat were no criteria for the level of performance, therefore, pressure towards too low values may be disadvantageous.

Key words

ultrasound imaging - subcutaneous fat - body mass index - marathon - anthropometry - sexual dimorphism

Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 13 January 2020

Accepted: 09 September 2020

Article published online:
14 October 2020

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
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