(44) CHANGES IN REGIONAL BODY COMPOSITION VALUES FOR COLLEGIATE ATHLETES OVER TIME UTILIZING DUAL ENERGY X-RAY ABSORPTIOMETRY

Purpose: To examine regional changes in body composition in collegiate athletes throughout their athletic careers relative to their initial scan. Methods: 219 college aged athletes (Division I athletes from a variety of sports) participated in this longitudinal tracking investigation (ht. 176±10 cm (Mean±SD), wt. 77.8±20.0 kg, age 20.0±1.3 years, 127 female, 92 male subjects). After filling out informed consents and health history questionnaires students were scanned for total body composition utilizing a Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scanner (Lunar Prodigy by GE). Regional and total fat mass and fat free mass values were analyzed for change relative to initial values. Time between scans was between 3-24 months. Changes were analyzed based on absolute changes from one scan to the next and relative to changes. Results: Overall regional changes in fat mass occurred at a faster but not statistically significant rate compared to the lean mass (table 1). Upper extremity changes in lean mass and fat mass were markedly slower than lower body changes and fat mass was accrued to a greater degree than fat mass loss. Conclusions: On average regional changes were small, but there was a high degree of variability. This was an observational study utilizing variable testing frequency which involved athletes who were injured and then rehabbed and returned to play. Further research into this area will allow for more defined body composition change timeline expectations for athletes and non-athletes which would be useful for coaches, trainers, and researchers. Practical Applications: Overall regional changes in athlete body composition during their athletic career are small both in raw values and when examined over the entire career. Regional changes were much greater in fat mass compared to lean mass. Very large changes in athletes are likely rare and should inform choices on recruitment and realistic expectations. Acknowledgements: The researchers would like to thank Dalton Stephens and Yehor Vitel for their efforts on this investigation.