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.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional.

SUBJECTS

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

MEASUREMENTS

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.

CONCLUSION

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.