Intraseason changes in the body composition of collegiate female gymnasts

Body composition measures were collected pre-, mid- and post-season on a team of eight national-calibre collegiate women gymnasts to examine intraseason changes. Also analysed were interseason changes using pre- and post-season data on five of the eight subjects during the current and previous year, according to a 2 x 2 (years x tests) analysis of variance repeated-measures design. Skinfold, circumference and diameter measures were collected with percentage body fat, lean body mass and body density determined by regression equations developed specifically for collegiate female gymnasts. Intraseason body weight decreased significantly from pre- to mid-season (means = 55.0 and 53.6 kg respectively); but the difference between mid- and post-season (53.9 kg) values was not significant (P greater than 0.05). The majority of the 1.4 kg weight loss occurred during intense pre-season conditioning and not during the actual season. Percentage body fat, on the other hand, decreased significantly from pre- to mid-season and mid- to post-season (means = 21.4%, 17.4% and 13.45% respectively; P less than 0.0005). Body density increased significantly from pre- to mid-season and mid- to post-season (means = 1.0476, 1.0584 and 1.0681 respectively; P greater than 0.0005). Of the circumference and skinfold values used in calculating percentage body fat and body density, only the skinfold values displayed significant decreases throughout the season. Interseason analyses revealed no significant changes in any of the dependent measures between seasons, despite consistent trends. There were no significant years x tests interactions and all intraseason changes for two seasons (n = 5) were the same as those found in more detailed analysis of a single season (n = 8) except in the case of weight loss, which was marginally significant (P less than 0.046) in the single-season and not in the dual-season analysis (P greater than 0.05). Body composition of these gymnasts changed in many ways within competitive seasons. The most pronounced changes observed were decreases in subcutaneous fat and increases in body density. This study reinforces the need for administrators, coaches and athletes to be concerned with percentage body fat and skinfold measures rather than weight alone when determining if a person is 'fat'.