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Int J Sports Med 2019; 40(06): 404-408
DOI: 10.1055/a-0863-4607
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Body Composition and Visceral Adipose Tissue in Female Collegiate Equestrian Athletes

Olivia H. Dengel
1   Biology Department, College of Saint Benedict, Saint Joseph, Minnesota, United States
,
Christiana J. Raymond-Pope
2   School of Kinesiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
,
Tyler A. Bosch
3   College of Education+Human Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
,
Jonathan M. Oliver
4   Department of Kinesiology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, United States
,
Donald R. Dengel
2   School of Kinesiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
01 April 2019 (online)

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Abstract

To examine measures of total and regional body composition using dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in NCAA Division I collegiate equestrian athletes, 31 female collegiate equestrian athletes were matched to a population of normal controls by age and body mass index. Total and regional fat tissue mass (FM), lean tissue mass (LM), bone mineral density (BMD), and abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) were measured by DXA. Equestrian athletes had a significantly (p=0.03) lower total body fat percentage (%fat) than controls. There were no significant differences in total LM and VAT between equestrian athletes and controls. However, equestrian athletes, when compared to the controls, had significantly lower leg %fat, leg FM and higher leg LM. The greater leg LM in equestrian riders resulted in a smaller upper to lower body LM ratio compared to controls. There was no difference in leg BMD between equestrian athletes and controls. There were no significant differences between the 2 styles of riding (i. e., hunt seat and western style) in regards to body composition. The lower total %fat in equestrian athletes seems to be influenced by differences in leg composition, with equestrian athletes having significantly more LM and less FM.

Key words

dual X-ray absorptiometry - muscle mass - fat mass
 

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