T. Housh

Midwest wrestling study : prediction of minimal weight for high school wrestlers

This study determined the validity of previously published or newly derived equations to predict fat-free body mass (FFB) in high school wrestlers from the midwestern United States. Five laboratories participated in the data-pooling study (total sample of 860 subjects). Measures included body composition by underwater weighing and anthropometric measurements of body mass, stature, and selected circumferences, diameters, and skinfolds. Cross-validation of selected equations to predict FFB revealed the lowest levels of error from the equations of Lohman, Thorland et al., Katch and McArdle, and Behnke and Wilmore. Modification of the constants in these equations or generation of new equations did not substantially reduce prediction error. Overall, total error for these top equations ranged from 2.44 to 2.59 kg. However, based on observed trends, this error was of lower magnitude with the younger and lighter subjects and of higher magnitude with the older and heavier subjects. We conclude that these equations could be used singularly or collectively to determine FFB, and a minimal weight could then be derived and assigned to a scholastic wrestler.

VALIDITY OF ANTHROPOMETRIC EQUATIONS FOR DETERMINATION OF CHANGES IN BODY COMPOSITION IN ADULT HALES DURING TRAINING

Twenty-six males (26.5 +/- 6.0 yr; X +/- SD) were studied before and after a fourteen week endurance training program to determine the validity of anthropometric equations for estimating changes in body composition (BC). Anthropometric measures included skinfolds (SF), circumferences, and diameters. Body density (BD) was determined by underwater weighing corrected for residual lung volume. Training resulted in an increase in BD (1.061 +/- 0.002 to 1.067 +/- 0.002 g/ml; X +/- SEM) and decreases in body weight (73.0 +/- 2.1 to 71.4 +/- 2.0 kg), relative fat (16.6 +/- 0.9 to 14.1 +/- 0.8%), fat weight (12.4 +/- 1.0 to 10.2 +/- 0.8 kg), and seventeen of the anthropometric measures (p less than 0.05). Cross-validation of twenty-four equations revealed validity coefficients (r2) and total error in relative fat (RFE) of r2 = 0.40-0.77 and RFE = 2.60-10.15% before training and r2 = 0.14-0.61 and RFE = 2.62-9.45% after training. Linear and base 10 logarithmic (log10) equations using primarily SF measures tended to have higher r2 and lower RFE than equations based on quadratic and natural logarithmic (loge) models and other anthropometric measures. Paired t-tests revealed that of these equations with higher r2 and lower RFE, only the linear equation by Forsyth & Sinning (BD = 1.10647--0.00162(scapSF)--0.00144(abdSF)--0.00077(triSF++ +) + 0.00071(midaxSF] was a stable predictor of BD during training. These results suggest that many existing equations may not be accurate predictors of changes in BC during training.