https://doi.org/10.5812/asjsm.34521

Changes in Skinfold Thicknesses and Body Fat in Ultra-endurance Cyclists

authors:

avatar Martin Bischof 1 , avatar Beat Knechtle ORCID 2 , * , avatar Christoph A.Rst 1 , avatar Patrizia Knechtle 2 , avatar Thomas Rosemann 1

Institute of General Practice and Health Services Research, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Gesundheitszentrum St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
Asian Journal of Sports Medicine: Vol.4, issue 1; 15-22
published online: September 28, 2012
article type: Research Article
received: April 4, 2012
accepted: August 25, 2012

how to cite: Bischof M, Knechtle B, A.Rst C, Knechtle P, Rosemann T. Changes in Skinfold Thicknesses and Body Fat in Ultra-endurance Cyclists. Asian J Sports Med. 2013;4(1):34521. https://doi.org/10.5812/asjsm.34521.

Abstract

Purpose:

The present study investigated the changes in single skinfold thicknesses and body fat during an ultra-endurance cycling race.

Methods:

One hundred and nineteen ultra-endurance cyclists in the Swiss Cycling Marathon covering a distance of 600 km were included. Changes in skinfold thickness, fat mass, skeletal muscle mass and total body water were estimated using anthropometric methods.

Results:

The subjects were riding at a mean speed of 23.54.0 km/h and finished the race within 1,580296 min. During the race, body mass decreased by 1.51.2 kg (P<0.001), and fat mass decreased by 1.51.1 kg (P<0.001). Skeletal muscle mass and total body water remained unchanged (P>0.05). The decrease in body mass correlated to the decrease in fat mass (r = 0.20, P=0.03). The skinfold thicknesses at pectoral (-14.7%), abdominal (-14.9%), and thigh (-10.2%) site showed the largest decrease. The decrease in abdominal skinfold was significantly and negatively related to cycling speed during the race (r = -0.31, P<0.001).

Conclusion:

Cycling 600 km at ?23 km/h led to a decrease in fat mass and in all skinfold thicknesses. The largest decrease in skinfold thickness was recorded for pectoral, abdominal, and thigh site. The decrease in abdominal skinfold thickness was negatively related to cycling speed. The body seems to reduce adipose subcutaneous fat during an ultra-endurance performance at the site of the thickest skinfold.

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