Skinfold Thickness Distribution in Recreational Marathon Runners.

Pantelis Theodoros Nikolaidis,Thomas Rosemann,Beat Knechtle

doi:10.3390/ijerph17092978

Abstract

The relationship of body fat (BF) percentage with performance of elite marathon runners has been well studied; however, less information is available about the variation of skinfold thickness by sex and performance in non-elite marathon runners. The aim of the present study was to examine the variation of skinfold thickness by sex and performance in recreational marathon runners. Participants included 32 female (age 40.1 ± 9.0 years, BF 19.6 ± 4.7%, and training volume 47.7 ± 22.6 km) and 134 male marathon runners (44.3 ± 8.8 years, 17.6 ± 4.0%, and 53.0 ± 21.2 km, respectively). The largest skinfold thickness was the abdomen in both sexes, whereas the smallest was biceps in men, and chins in women (p < 0.001). The largest sex difference in skinfold thickness was observed in triceps being the fattest in women (p < 0.001). The largest difference in skinfold thickness among men’s performance groups was observed in the iliac crest, and the smallest in the patella and proximal calf (p < 0.001). In summary, skinfold measurements indicated that women had more fat in both their upper and lower limbs, while men had more fat in their trunk. With regards to the role of performance level, the slowest runners presented relatively more fat in the upper limbs and trunk anatomical sites, i.e., away from the active muscles of legs.

Highlights

Considering the increased popularity of marathon running, a large number of studies have examined determinants of race time [1,2,3,4]
Marathon race time has been related to body composition [6], where a higher body fat (BF) percentage was associated with slower race time
A moderate sex × anatomical site interaction on skinfold thickness was shown (p < 0.001, η2 = 0.516), with the sex difference ranging from −34.0%

Summary

Introduction

Considering the increased popularity of marathon running, a large number of studies have examined determinants of race time [1,2,3,4]. Marathon race time has been related to body composition [6], where a higher body fat (BF) percentage was associated with slower race time. Studies on marathon runners have used several assessment methods of BF and other measures of body composition, such as muscle mass. The distribution of fat has health implications, with central fat related to risk for diseases such as coronary heart disease and stroke, whereas peripheral fat has less metabolic risk [9]. The fat distribution might have implications for endurance performance, e.g., it was shown that slow mountain marathon race time was related with a high level of central adiposity [10]. With regards to the role of sex, male swimmers had a more central distribution of fat, whereas women had more fat in their lower limbs [11]

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Discussion

Conclusion