JOURNAL
OF
Vol. 39, No.
APPLIED
PHYSIOLOGY
4, October
1975.
Printed
in U.S.A.
Body composition weight-trained
and VQ ITlaxof exceptional athletes
THOMAS D. FAHEY, LAHSEN AKKA, AND RICHARD ROLPH Department of Physical Education, Laboratory of Ergonomic Research, San Jose State University, San Jose, Calvornia
were the shot put, the discus throw, body building, power lifting, wrestling, and Olympic weight lifting. All athletes were in active training and were tested within 1 yr of their best performances. Shot-putters included the current world record holder (subj A) as well as four others who had put the shot greater than 65 ft. Discus throwers included the unofficial world record holder (subj B), three 200 ft plus throwers, and four 180 ft plus throwers. Power lifters included the world record holder in the squat (subj C), as well as two other athletes who placed in the national championships. Wrestlers included a NCAA place winner (subj D) and a PCAA league champion. Body builders included Mr. Western America and 1Mr. California (subj E). Olympic lifters included the teenage US champion (subj F), three AAU place winners, and seven other national caliber athletes. All athletes could bench press a minimum of 350 lb (mean & SD, (1.93 + 0.19 kg- (kg SW)-l). A description of the subjects appears in Table 1. Body composition was assessed by densitometry in a 900-gal metal tank by the method of Wilmore and Behnke (14). Subjects reported to the laboratory in a postabsorbtive state and were instructed to void the rectum and bladder prior to the test. Correction for residual volume was accomplished by the closed-circuit oxygen dilution method of Wilmore (12) utilizing either a Waters A-7 or a VertekHewlett-Packard nitrogen analyzer and a Collins g-liter spirometer. The formula of Brozek et al. (1) was used to determine lean body weight and percent body fat ( % fat = (4.570/body density - 4.142) X 100). Endurance capacity was measured on a bicycle ergometer while the subjects performed an incremental work task to exhaustion. Minute-by-minute oxygen consumptions were obtained according to the method described by Wilmore (13). Pulmonary ventilation was measured with a Godart-Statham pneumotachograph, regularly calibrated against a Collins 120~liter Tissot gasometer. Expired air samples were immediately analyzed for percent oxygen with an Applied Electrochemistry model S-3A 02 analyzer, and for percent CO2 with a Godart Capnograph. The 02 and CO2 analyzers were regularly calibrated with known gas samples verified with a Scholander apparatus. VOZ max was identified as the highest Voz reached during a 1-min period. Heart rates were determined from the ECG obtained from a Gilson recorder using Beckman surface electrodes. Maximal heart rate was identified as the highest value recording during the test.
FAHEY, THOMAS D., LAHSEN AKKA, AND RICHARD ROLPH. Body composition and VO2 ma2 of exceptional wecqht-trained athletes. J. Appl. Physiol. 39(4): 559-561. 1975.-The maximal oxygen uptake and body composition of 30 exceptional athletes who have trained extensively with weights was measured. The sample included 3 world record holders, 8 other world class athletes, and 19 national class competitors. The sports represented were shotputting, discus throwing, body building, power lifting, wrestling, and Olympic lifting. \joz 111ax as determined on a bicycle ergometer by the open-circuit method was 4.6 & 0.7 1 . min-l (mean & SD) (48.8 & 7 ml-kg-l; 56.4 & 8.6 ml* (kg LBW)-l). The mean maximal heart rate was 185.3 I+ 11.6 beats*min? The subjects attained a work rate of 1,7‘28.2 rir 223 kpm . min-l on a continuous progressive bicycle ergometer test and had mean maximal ventilations of 152.5 % 27.7 1 l rein-l BTPS. Body composition was determined by densitometry. Body weight averaged 96.0 & 14.9 kg, with mean percent fat of 13.8 =t 4.5. The results of this study indicate that exceptional weight-trained athletes are within the normal college-age population range in body fat and of somewhat higher physical working capacity. maximal exercise;
aerobic champion
power; athletes
body
composition;
physical
95192
activity;
WEIGHT TRAINING has become an important part of the training program of many types of athletes. Some athletes spend over 20 h per wk weight training and have consequently developed extreme strength and muscle mass. The tremendous increase in world records in such events as the shot put and discus throw may be attributed directly to vigorous weight training programs. A unique population has evolved of extremely strong men who have achieved great success in their sports. Unfortunately, little data are available on the characteristics of these people. The purpose of this investigation was to study the body composition and endurance capacity of champion caliber athletes who have trained extensively with weights. METHODS
The body composition and work capacity of 30 highcaliber athletes who trained extensively with weights was measured. All subjects had trained with weights for at least 10 yr and are regarded as extremely strong men. Most of the subjects were Olympians, world record holders, national record holders, or national finalists in their event (11 world class; 19 national class). The events represented 559
Downloaded from www.physiology.org/journal/jappl by ${individualUser.givenNames} ${individualUser.surname} (192.236.036.029) on August 12, 2018. Copyright © 1975 American Physiological Society. All rights reserved.
560
FAHEY,
Groups
Wrestlers Body
builders
Power
lifters
Olympic Discus
weight
lifters
throwers
Shot -putters
All
groups Mean zt SD
RESULTS
AND
Age, yr
Ht,cm
w
26.0 Ito. 29.0 A7.1 26.3 zt4.2 25.3 zt4.6 28.3 *5.0 27.0 Ik3.9
177.0 zt10.8 172.4 zt3.1 176.1 xiz2.9 177.1 zt6.7 186.1 1k2.6 188.2 zt3.6
81.8 zt19.3 83.1 zt6.2 92.0 3x9.2 88.2 zk12.1 104.7 zk13.2 112.5 zt7.3
26.7 *4.3
180.9 rt7.3
96.0 zk14.9
Kg
Max HR, min-l
Max Work, kpm . min-1
9.8 zt3.7 8.4 xk3.9 15.6 *3 .o 12.2 xt3.8 16.4 zt4.3 16.5 zk4.3
192.2 zk17.0 177.5 zt3.5 195.5 zk9.2 188.0 xkl2.7 179.7 ztll.2 185.4 zk10.0
1,836.O zt50.9 1,339.5 zt142.1 1,753.7 Ik150.0 1,646.5 rt135.5 1,783.O zt104.6 1,960.8 xt331.6
13.8 zk4.5
185.4 xt11.6
1,728.Z sst223.4
% Fat
DISCUSSION
The results of the body composition assessment are shown in Table 1. The mean percent fat of all subjects was 13.8 rt 4.5 %. This was in spite of an average body weight of 96.0 & 14.9 kg. The lowest percent fat appeared among body builders (8.4 “r,) and the highest among shotputters (16.5 %). Several athletes have achieved great success in spite of relatively high fat percentages. The highest percentages of fat were 21.8 70 in subject G and 21.4 70 in subject H, both discus throwers. These athletes have thrown the discus more than 200 ft and are 32 and 36 yr of age, respectively. Subjects A and B have dominated the shot put and discus competition and have 17.5 % and 19.4 % fat. However, these two athletes are known for their quickness and explosiveness. Wilmore and Haskell (15) studied one of the most successful linemen in professional football who had 22.7 70 fat at a body weight of 248 lb. In 1969, Behnke and Wilmore (3) determined the body composition of the world indoor record holder in the shot put, and found that he had 17.1 70 fat at a body weight of 268. Tanner (10) determined the body composition of ten 1960 Olympic shot-putters and found slightly different values than the present study (16 %), but the fat percentages were still somewhat higher than the average individual. Momentum (mass X acceleration) is of primary importance to the shot-putter, discus thrower, and football lineman. If speed can be maintained, a large mass is of considerable advantage in these sports. The lowest fat percentages were found among wrestlers, Olympic weight lifters, and body builders. Wrestlers and Olympic weight lifters compete in weight divisions which might explain their greater degree of leanness. Body builders are judged by their muscular definition, which is hampered by a high percentage of fat. Subject E, one of the leading body builders in the world, had the lowest fat percentage of any subject with 5.7 70. Fat percentages of weight lifters used in our study agree with those in similar subjects studied by Sprynavova and Parizkova (9). Behnke and Royce (2), h owever, found weight lifters to have considerably more fat than those in our study.
Ma;
~;BTPS, *
AKKA,
AND
VO
i;o;yx,
2max,
ROLPH
max, ml. (kg
Vo2
-1
ml -kg-1 - min-1
164.80 zk11.57 118.36 xk60.28 170.96 zt16.62 158.56 h30.92 137 .oo ~1~18.25 150.88 zt20.93
5.1 rto.2 3.5 ztl.5 4.5 ztO.6 4.5 ItO.6 4.9 xko.7 4.8 rto.4
64.0 zt17.0 41.5 zt14.5 49.5 zk4.2 50.7 1t6.1 47.5 xk8.0 42.6 zk5.2
70.1 435.9 45.0 zk13.9 58.8 zt6.5 57.7 rt6.4 56.8 rt8.1 50.9 zk3.9
152.49 zk27.72
4.6 zto.7
48.8 &8.7
56.5 zt8.6
-1
LBW)-l.min-1
As a group, subjects in this study compare with professional football players tested by Wilmore and Haskell (15) in body fat. Body composition in both studies appears to be a function of the physical task; athletes who needed mass and power to perform their s,port generally had a higher fat percentage and a higher lean body mass. Athletes needing great speed or who performed in body weight classifications tended to be smaller and possessed a lower fat percentage. It is interesting to note that subjects in both studies had higher fat percentages than professional football players tested by Welham and Behnke (11) in 1942. This difference may be due to emphasis placed on the mass of the player in present day football. Normal or sedentary college-age subjects average 13 70 fat (3). This value is similar to that obtained for weighttrained athletes except that the athletes weigh an average of 40 lb more than normal subjects. Maximal oxygen uptake (Table 1) averaged 4.60 =t 0.71 1 min-l for all subjects. VO 2 max expressed as ml 02 (kg BW)+ and ml. (kg LBW)-l was 48.75 and 56.40, respectively. Subjects were able to work for an average of 8.34 min at a peak 1-min rate of 1,728 =t 223 kpm min? The mean maximal heart rate was 185.4 =t 11.6 beats. mix+. The maximal heart rates attained in the present study (187.4 beats min-l) are comparable to professional football players and weight lifters tested by other investigators (8, 15). Maximal ventilation volumes (152.5 1 min-l BTPS) yere in agreement with those reported by Saltin and Astrand (156 1 mind1 BTPS) (8), but slightly lower than those reported by Wilmore and Haskell (163.9 1 min-l) (15). The highest ventilation volume found in the present study was 195.2 lamin-l BTPS by a weight lifter. by wrestlers The highest vo 2 mftx values were attained (5.07 1 l rein-l) and the lowest by body builders (3.49 1 emin-1). The highest value, 76.0 ml O&kg BW)-l*minwas found in a 165-lb wrestling champion who usually jogs 5-10 miles daily in addition to heavy weight training sessions averaging 10 h per wk. The difference in oxygen uptake between the groups seems to reflect the amount of aerobic activity in their training programs. Wrestlers’ training programs usually include much endurance running, l
l
l
l
l
l
l
Downloaded from www.physiology.org/journal/jappl by ${individualUser.givenNames} ${individualUser.surname} (192.236.036.029) on August 12, 2018. Copyright © 1975 American Physiological Society. All rights reserved.
VO 2 max AND
BODY
FAT
OF
561
ATHLETES
with discus and shot-putters doing less and body builders doing practically none. An exception to this was subject E, a body builder, who had an oxygen uptake of 51 ml 02 (kg BW)? This subject worked as a mail carrier and played basketball regularly, which could explain his somewhat higher Voz lllax. Professional football players tested by Wilmore and Haskell (15) achieved somewhat higher Vo2 mStX values than the present sample. Physiological demands of the physical tasks, greater amounts of aerobic training by the football players, or differences in methods of determining ii0 2 in ax may explain the differences found between the groups. Maximal oxygen uptake measured on a treadmill is typically 10-l 5 % greater than the bicycle ergometer (7). Our data when expressed as ml 02. (kg BW)+, agree with those of Sprynarova and Parizkova (9). The mean Vo :! Illax values in this study are consistently higher than values reported in normal sedentary individuals by Buskirk and Taylor (4) (44.6 ml 02. (kg SW)+) and by Fahey and Brown (5) (43.5 ml 02. (kg SW)-l). These l
weight-trained athletes, however, are well below values typically associated with top endurance athletes (75 ml 02 kg SW)-l) (8). Vo2 max expressed relative to body weight may unduly penalize the big man. One of the offensive tackles in Wilmore and Haskell’s study (15) weighed 248 lb, had 14 % fat, and ran a relatively fast 5:05 mile. His Vo2 max was 60.0 ml kg-l . min-r even though his gross VOW Inax value was 6.75 1 min-l, one of the highest reported in the literature. Likewise, subjects in this study had considerably higher work capacities than other subjects tested in our laboratory who possessed higher X702 max values when calculated per unit body weight. trainers The relatively low Vo2 mftx values for weight reported here and by other investigators (8) when compared to endurance athletes may be due to differences in muscle fiber composition as well as training programs (6). l
l
l
Our
thanks
Received
for
to G. Brooks oublication 1
for
suggestions
13 September
regarding
this
paper.
1975.
I
REFERENCES 1. BROZEK, J., F. GRANDE, J. ANDERSON, AND A. KEYS. Densitometric analysis of body composition: revision of some quantitative assumptions. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 110: 113-140, 1963. A. R., AND J. ROYCE. Body size, shape, and composition 2. BEHNKE, of several types of athletes. J. Sports Med. Phys. Fitness 6: 75-88, 1966. A. R., AND J. WILMORE. Eualuation and Regulation of Body 3. BEHNKE, Build and Composition. Englewood Cliffs, N. J. : Prentice Hall, 1974. E., AND H. 1,. TAYLOR. Maximal oxygen intake and 4. BUSKIRK, relation to body composition with special reference to chronic physical activity and obesity. J. A#. Physiol. 11 : 72-78, 1957. T. D., AND C. H. BROWN. The effect of an anabolic 5. FAHEY, steroid on the strength, body composition, and endurance of college males when accompanied by a weight training program. Med. Sci. Sports 5 : 272-276, 1973. P., R. ARMSTRONG, C. SAUBERT IV, K. PIEHL, AND 6. GOLLNICK, B. SALTIN. Enzyme activity and fiber composition in skeletal muscle of untrained and trained men. J. AppZ. Physiol. 33 : 312319, 1972. L., AND B. SALTIN. Oxygen uptake during maximal 7. HERMANSEN, treadmill and bicycle exercise. J. AppZ. Physiol. 26 : 3 l-37, 1969.
8. SALTIN, B., AND P. J. k&Z. Physiol. 32 9. SPRYNAROVA, S., body composition
ASTRAND. Maximal : 353-358, 1967. AND J. PARIZKOVA. in top weight-lifters,
oxygen
uptake
Functional swimmers,
11 ’
WELHAM, healthy
W. C., AND men. Am. Med.
capacity runners,
A. R. BEHNKE. The specific Assoc. 118: 498-501, 1942.
12.
WILMORE, J. lung volume.
A simplified method for determination J. AppZ. Physiol. 27 : 96-100, 1969.
13.
WILMORE,
A simplified
piraiion
15.
athletes. and and
skiers. Intern. 2’. Angew. Physiol. 29 : 184- 194, 197 1. TANNER, J. MI. The Physique of the Olympic Athlete. London and Unwin, 1964, p. 119-120.
10.
14.
in
J.
method
obtaining
gravity
of
of residual aliquots
res-
of
air.
WILMORE, of body
Physiol. 27 : 25-3 1, 1969. WILMORE, J., AND W. HASKELL. capacity of professional football 567,
for
Res. Quart. 39: 324-328, 1968. An anthropometric J . , AND A. R. BEHNKE. density and lean body weight in young
: Allen
Body composition players. J. A@/.
estimation men. and Physiol.
J.
Appz.
endurance 33 : 564--
1972.
Downloaded from www.physiology.org/journal/jappl by ${individualUser.givenNames} ${individualUser.surname} (192.236.036.029) on August 12, 2018. Copyright © 1975 American Physiological Society. All rights reserved.
OF
Vol. 39, No.
APPLIED
PHYSIOLOGY
4, October
1975.
Printed
in U.S.A.
Body composition weight-trained
and VQ ITlaxof exceptional athletes
THOMAS D. FAHEY, LAHSEN AKKA, AND RICHARD ROLPH Department of Physical Education, Laboratory of Ergonomic Research, San Jose State University, San Jose, Calvornia
were the shot put, the discus throw, body building, power lifting, wrestling, and Olympic weight lifting. All athletes were in active training and were tested within 1 yr of their best performances. Shot-putters included the current world record holder (subj A) as well as four others who had put the shot greater than 65 ft. Discus throwers included the unofficial world record holder (subj B), three 200 ft plus throwers, and four 180 ft plus throwers. Power lifters included the world record holder in the squat (subj C), as well as two other athletes who placed in the national championships. Wrestlers included a NCAA place winner (subj D) and a PCAA league champion. Body builders included Mr. Western America and 1Mr. California (subj E). Olympic lifters included the teenage US champion (subj F), three AAU place winners, and seven other national caliber athletes. All athletes could bench press a minimum of 350 lb (mean & SD, (1.93 + 0.19 kg- (kg SW)-l). A description of the subjects appears in Table 1. Body composition was assessed by densitometry in a 900-gal metal tank by the method of Wilmore and Behnke (14). Subjects reported to the laboratory in a postabsorbtive state and were instructed to void the rectum and bladder prior to the test. Correction for residual volume was accomplished by the closed-circuit oxygen dilution method of Wilmore (12) utilizing either a Waters A-7 or a VertekHewlett-Packard nitrogen analyzer and a Collins g-liter spirometer. The formula of Brozek et al. (1) was used to determine lean body weight and percent body fat ( % fat = (4.570/body density - 4.142) X 100). Endurance capacity was measured on a bicycle ergometer while the subjects performed an incremental work task to exhaustion. Minute-by-minute oxygen consumptions were obtained according to the method described by Wilmore (13). Pulmonary ventilation was measured with a Godart-Statham pneumotachograph, regularly calibrated against a Collins 120~liter Tissot gasometer. Expired air samples were immediately analyzed for percent oxygen with an Applied Electrochemistry model S-3A 02 analyzer, and for percent CO2 with a Godart Capnograph. The 02 and CO2 analyzers were regularly calibrated with known gas samples verified with a Scholander apparatus. VOZ max was identified as the highest Voz reached during a 1-min period. Heart rates were determined from the ECG obtained from a Gilson recorder using Beckman surface electrodes. Maximal heart rate was identified as the highest value recording during the test.
FAHEY, THOMAS D., LAHSEN AKKA, AND RICHARD ROLPH. Body composition and VO2 ma2 of exceptional wecqht-trained athletes. J. Appl. Physiol. 39(4): 559-561. 1975.-The maximal oxygen uptake and body composition of 30 exceptional athletes who have trained extensively with weights was measured. The sample included 3 world record holders, 8 other world class athletes, and 19 national class competitors. The sports represented were shotputting, discus throwing, body building, power lifting, wrestling, and Olympic lifting. \joz 111ax as determined on a bicycle ergometer by the open-circuit method was 4.6 & 0.7 1 . min-l (mean & SD) (48.8 & 7 ml-kg-l; 56.4 & 8.6 ml* (kg LBW)-l). The mean maximal heart rate was 185.3 I+ 11.6 beats*min? The subjects attained a work rate of 1,7‘28.2 rir 223 kpm . min-l on a continuous progressive bicycle ergometer test and had mean maximal ventilations of 152.5 % 27.7 1 l rein-l BTPS. Body composition was determined by densitometry. Body weight averaged 96.0 & 14.9 kg, with mean percent fat of 13.8 =t 4.5. The results of this study indicate that exceptional weight-trained athletes are within the normal college-age population range in body fat and of somewhat higher physical working capacity. maximal exercise;
aerobic champion
power; athletes
body
composition;
physical
95192
activity;
WEIGHT TRAINING has become an important part of the training program of many types of athletes. Some athletes spend over 20 h per wk weight training and have consequently developed extreme strength and muscle mass. The tremendous increase in world records in such events as the shot put and discus throw may be attributed directly to vigorous weight training programs. A unique population has evolved of extremely strong men who have achieved great success in their sports. Unfortunately, little data are available on the characteristics of these people. The purpose of this investigation was to study the body composition and endurance capacity of champion caliber athletes who have trained extensively with weights. METHODS
The body composition and work capacity of 30 highcaliber athletes who trained extensively with weights was measured. All subjects had trained with weights for at least 10 yr and are regarded as extremely strong men. Most of the subjects were Olympians, world record holders, national record holders, or national finalists in their event (11 world class; 19 national class). The events represented 559
Downloaded from www.physiology.org/journal/jappl by ${individualUser.givenNames} ${individualUser.surname} (192.236.036.029) on August 12, 2018. Copyright © 1975 American Physiological Society. All rights reserved.
560
FAHEY,
Groups
Wrestlers Body
builders
Power
lifters
Olympic Discus
weight
lifters
throwers
Shot -putters
All
groups Mean zt SD
RESULTS
AND
Age, yr
Ht,cm
w
26.0 Ito. 29.0 A7.1 26.3 zt4.2 25.3 zt4.6 28.3 *5.0 27.0 Ik3.9
177.0 zt10.8 172.4 zt3.1 176.1 xiz2.9 177.1 zt6.7 186.1 1k2.6 188.2 zt3.6
81.8 zt19.3 83.1 zt6.2 92.0 3x9.2 88.2 zk12.1 104.7 zk13.2 112.5 zt7.3
26.7 *4.3
180.9 rt7.3
96.0 zk14.9
Kg
Max HR, min-l
Max Work, kpm . min-1
9.8 zt3.7 8.4 xk3.9 15.6 *3 .o 12.2 xt3.8 16.4 zt4.3 16.5 zk4.3
192.2 zk17.0 177.5 zt3.5 195.5 zk9.2 188.0 xkl2.7 179.7 ztll.2 185.4 zk10.0
1,836.O zt50.9 1,339.5 zt142.1 1,753.7 Ik150.0 1,646.5 rt135.5 1,783.O zt104.6 1,960.8 xt331.6
13.8 zk4.5
185.4 xt11.6
1,728.Z sst223.4
% Fat
DISCUSSION
The results of the body composition assessment are shown in Table 1. The mean percent fat of all subjects was 13.8 rt 4.5 %. This was in spite of an average body weight of 96.0 & 14.9 kg. The lowest percent fat appeared among body builders (8.4 “r,) and the highest among shotputters (16.5 %). Several athletes have achieved great success in spite of relatively high fat percentages. The highest percentages of fat were 21.8 70 in subject G and 21.4 70 in subject H, both discus throwers. These athletes have thrown the discus more than 200 ft and are 32 and 36 yr of age, respectively. Subjects A and B have dominated the shot put and discus competition and have 17.5 % and 19.4 % fat. However, these two athletes are known for their quickness and explosiveness. Wilmore and Haskell (15) studied one of the most successful linemen in professional football who had 22.7 70 fat at a body weight of 248 lb. In 1969, Behnke and Wilmore (3) determined the body composition of the world indoor record holder in the shot put, and found that he had 17.1 70 fat at a body weight of 268. Tanner (10) determined the body composition of ten 1960 Olympic shot-putters and found slightly different values than the present study (16 %), but the fat percentages were still somewhat higher than the average individual. Momentum (mass X acceleration) is of primary importance to the shot-putter, discus thrower, and football lineman. If speed can be maintained, a large mass is of considerable advantage in these sports. The lowest fat percentages were found among wrestlers, Olympic weight lifters, and body builders. Wrestlers and Olympic weight lifters compete in weight divisions which might explain their greater degree of leanness. Body builders are judged by their muscular definition, which is hampered by a high percentage of fat. Subject E, one of the leading body builders in the world, had the lowest fat percentage of any subject with 5.7 70. Fat percentages of weight lifters used in our study agree with those in similar subjects studied by Sprynavova and Parizkova (9). Behnke and Royce (2), h owever, found weight lifters to have considerably more fat than those in our study.
Ma;
~;BTPS, *
AKKA,
AND
VO
i;o;yx,
2max,
ROLPH
max, ml. (kg
Vo2
-1
ml -kg-1 - min-1
164.80 zk11.57 118.36 xk60.28 170.96 zt16.62 158.56 h30.92 137 .oo ~1~18.25 150.88 zt20.93
5.1 rto.2 3.5 ztl.5 4.5 ztO.6 4.5 ItO.6 4.9 xko.7 4.8 rto.4
64.0 zt17.0 41.5 zt14.5 49.5 zk4.2 50.7 1t6.1 47.5 xk8.0 42.6 zk5.2
70.1 435.9 45.0 zk13.9 58.8 zt6.5 57.7 rt6.4 56.8 rt8.1 50.9 zk3.9
152.49 zk27.72
4.6 zto.7
48.8 &8.7
56.5 zt8.6
-1
LBW)-l.min-1
As a group, subjects in this study compare with professional football players tested by Wilmore and Haskell (15) in body fat. Body composition in both studies appears to be a function of the physical task; athletes who needed mass and power to perform their s,port generally had a higher fat percentage and a higher lean body mass. Athletes needing great speed or who performed in body weight classifications tended to be smaller and possessed a lower fat percentage. It is interesting to note that subjects in both studies had higher fat percentages than professional football players tested by Welham and Behnke (11) in 1942. This difference may be due to emphasis placed on the mass of the player in present day football. Normal or sedentary college-age subjects average 13 70 fat (3). This value is similar to that obtained for weighttrained athletes except that the athletes weigh an average of 40 lb more than normal subjects. Maximal oxygen uptake (Table 1) averaged 4.60 =t 0.71 1 min-l for all subjects. VO 2 max expressed as ml 02 (kg BW)+ and ml. (kg LBW)-l was 48.75 and 56.40, respectively. Subjects were able to work for an average of 8.34 min at a peak 1-min rate of 1,728 =t 223 kpm min? The mean maximal heart rate was 185.4 =t 11.6 beats. mix+. The maximal heart rates attained in the present study (187.4 beats min-l) are comparable to professional football players and weight lifters tested by other investigators (8, 15). Maximal ventilation volumes (152.5 1 min-l BTPS) yere in agreement with those reported by Saltin and Astrand (156 1 mind1 BTPS) (8), but slightly lower than those reported by Wilmore and Haskell (163.9 1 min-l) (15). The highest ventilation volume found in the present study was 195.2 lamin-l BTPS by a weight lifter. by wrestlers The highest vo 2 mftx values were attained (5.07 1 l rein-l) and the lowest by body builders (3.49 1 emin-1). The highest value, 76.0 ml O&kg BW)-l*minwas found in a 165-lb wrestling champion who usually jogs 5-10 miles daily in addition to heavy weight training sessions averaging 10 h per wk. The difference in oxygen uptake between the groups seems to reflect the amount of aerobic activity in their training programs. Wrestlers’ training programs usually include much endurance running, l
l
l
l
l
l
l
Downloaded from www.physiology.org/journal/jappl by ${individualUser.givenNames} ${individualUser.surname} (192.236.036.029) on August 12, 2018. Copyright © 1975 American Physiological Society. All rights reserved.
VO 2 max AND
BODY
FAT
OF
561
ATHLETES
with discus and shot-putters doing less and body builders doing practically none. An exception to this was subject E, a body builder, who had an oxygen uptake of 51 ml 02 (kg BW)? This subject worked as a mail carrier and played basketball regularly, which could explain his somewhat higher Voz lllax. Professional football players tested by Wilmore and Haskell (15) achieved somewhat higher Vo2 mStX values than the present sample. Physiological demands of the physical tasks, greater amounts of aerobic training by the football players, or differences in methods of determining ii0 2 in ax may explain the differences found between the groups. Maximal oxygen uptake measured on a treadmill is typically 10-l 5 % greater than the bicycle ergometer (7). Our data when expressed as ml 02. (kg BW)+, agree with those of Sprynarova and Parizkova (9). The mean Vo :! Illax values in this study are consistently higher than values reported in normal sedentary individuals by Buskirk and Taylor (4) (44.6 ml 02. (kg SW)+) and by Fahey and Brown (5) (43.5 ml 02. (kg SW)-l). These l
weight-trained athletes, however, are well below values typically associated with top endurance athletes (75 ml 02 kg SW)-l) (8). Vo2 max expressed relative to body weight may unduly penalize the big man. One of the offensive tackles in Wilmore and Haskell’s study (15) weighed 248 lb, had 14 % fat, and ran a relatively fast 5:05 mile. His Vo2 max was 60.0 ml kg-l . min-r even though his gross VOW Inax value was 6.75 1 min-l, one of the highest reported in the literature. Likewise, subjects in this study had considerably higher work capacities than other subjects tested in our laboratory who possessed higher X702 max values when calculated per unit body weight. trainers The relatively low Vo2 mftx values for weight reported here and by other investigators (8) when compared to endurance athletes may be due to differences in muscle fiber composition as well as training programs (6). l
l
l
Our
thanks
Received
for
to G. Brooks oublication 1
for
suggestions
13 September
regarding
this
paper.
1975.
I
REFERENCES 1. BROZEK, J., F. GRANDE, J. ANDERSON, AND A. KEYS. Densitometric analysis of body composition: revision of some quantitative assumptions. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 110: 113-140, 1963. A. R., AND J. ROYCE. Body size, shape, and composition 2. BEHNKE, of several types of athletes. J. Sports Med. Phys. Fitness 6: 75-88, 1966. A. R., AND J. WILMORE. Eualuation and Regulation of Body 3. BEHNKE, Build and Composition. Englewood Cliffs, N. J. : Prentice Hall, 1974. E., AND H. 1,. TAYLOR. Maximal oxygen intake and 4. BUSKIRK, relation to body composition with special reference to chronic physical activity and obesity. J. A#. Physiol. 11 : 72-78, 1957. T. D., AND C. H. BROWN. The effect of an anabolic 5. FAHEY, steroid on the strength, body composition, and endurance of college males when accompanied by a weight training program. Med. Sci. Sports 5 : 272-276, 1973. P., R. ARMSTRONG, C. SAUBERT IV, K. PIEHL, AND 6. GOLLNICK, B. SALTIN. Enzyme activity and fiber composition in skeletal muscle of untrained and trained men. J. AppZ. Physiol. 33 : 312319, 1972. L., AND B. SALTIN. Oxygen uptake during maximal 7. HERMANSEN, treadmill and bicycle exercise. J. AppZ. Physiol. 26 : 3 l-37, 1969.
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