Evaluation of Body Composition Assessment

in Aquatic Sports

Dr. Margo Mountjoy MD, CCFP, FCFP, Dip Sport Med.Chair – FINA Sports Medicine Committee

Hydrostatic weighing

TOBEC (total body electrical conductivity)

DEXA (Dual Electron x-ray absorptiometry)

Skin fold thickness

NIR: Near Infrared Interactance

MRI ???

Body Composition Assessment Methods

Hydrostatic Weighing

Ease of use

Downfalls of Body Composition AssessmentAccuracy

Variables: race, gender, body type, age

Hydration

Cost

Time

Equipment

Markers of Athletic Performance

genetic endowment

proper nutrition

good coaching

strenuous training

Consequences of Body Composition Assessment

physical

psychological

Application to Aquatic Sports

Female athletes

Judged/esthetic sports

Age range

Motivated, perfectionist

Practical Strategies for Aquatic Team Physicians

Develop a healthy sporting environment

Body composition - performance

Encourage awareness of eating disorders

Provide nutritional counselling

Develop alternative methods of performance assessment

Practical Strategies for Aquatic Team Physicians

Encourage further study of eating disorders

Provide prevention programs

Provide monitoring programs

Evaluate your program to eliminate harmful practices

I challenge you to critically evaluate your athlete monitoring programs:

Challenge

Are you performing tests…

…that are inaccurate

…that can potentially cause psychological or physical

harm?

…that are not proven to affect performance

Conclusion

“that routine body composition assessment be abandoned for all female athletes. This can be a valuable strategy toward reduction of the incidence of the Female Athlete Triad when supplemented with prevention programs aimed at disordered eating and comprehensive nutritional counselling to athletes at risk.”

I would like to acknowledge my colleague, Dr. Jim Carson

principle author of this discussion paper.