Body Composition Variations Across Sports Categories: A Basis For Tailored Sports Training And Nutrition Strategies

Abstract

Body composition is a determining factor in athletic performance, with different sports requiring distinct physiological adaptations. This study investigates variations in body composition across endurance, power, and team sports categories. Athletes in endurance sports- cycling and distance running, generally exhibit lower body fat percentages and enhanced aerobic capacity, achieved through high volumes of moderate-intensity training. Strength athletes, including weightlifters and throwers, possess greater lean body mass but may also have higher fat mass due to increased caloric intake to support muscle hypertrophy. Team sports athletes require a balanced composition of lean muscle and low-fat levels to optimize agility, strength, and endurance. This cross-sectional study included 60 college athletes aged 19-24 years, categorized into three groups: team sports (n=20), endurance (n=20), and power (n=20). Body composition parameters such as skeletal muscle percentage, body fat percentage, visceral fat percentage, and resting metabolic rate were measured. Statistical analyses, including one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc tests, were performed to identify significant differences. Results show that endurance athletes had the lowest body fat percentage (26.10%), visceral fat (2.88), and resting metabolism (1146.15 kcal), while power and team sports athletes exhibited higher values in these parameters. However, differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Skeletal muscle distribution patterns varied, with endurance athletes showing the highest total skeletal muscle percentage (27.28%). Despite differences in metabolic demands, the findings highlight the need for sport-specific training and dietary strategies for improving performance. The body composition variations among different sports categories emphasize the need for tailored nutritional and training approaches. Recognizing these variances allows coaches and athletes to implement personalized regimens that maximize performance outcomes. Future studies should investigate how body composition evolves over time and how performance adaptations differ across various sports.