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Context: The recent increase in athlete size, particularly in football athletes of all levels, coupled with the increased health risk associated with obesity warrants continued monitoring of body composition from a health perspective in this population. Equations developed to predict percentage of body fat (%Fat) have been shown to be population specific and might not be accurate for football athletes. Objective: To develop multiple regression equations using standard anthropometric measurements to estimate dual- energy x-ray absorptiometry %Fat (DEXA%Fat) in collegiate football players. Design: Controlled laboratory study. Patients and Other Participants: One hundred fifty-seven National Collegiate Athletic Association Division IA football athletes (age = 20 ± 1 years, height = 185.6 ± 6.5 cm, mass = 103.1 ± 20.4 kg, DEXA%Fat = 19.5 ± 9.1%) participated. Main Outcome Measure(s): Participants had the following measures: (1) body composition testing with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry; (2) skinfold measurements in millimeters, including chest, triceps, subscapular, midaxillary, suprailiac, abdominal (SFAB), and thigh; and (3) standard circumference measurements in centimeters, including ankle, calf, thigh, hip (AHIP), waist, umbilical (AUMB), chest, wrist, forearm, arm, and neck. Regression analysis and fit statistics were used to determine the relationship between DEXA%Fat and each skinfold thickness, sum of all skinfold measures (SFSUM), and Individual circumference measures. Results: Statistical analysis resulted in the development of 3 equations to predict DEXA%Fat: model 1, (0.178 • AHIP) + (0.097 • AUMB) + (0.089 • SFSUM) - 19.641; model 2, (0.193- AHIP) + (0.133 • AUMB) + (0.371 • SFAB) - 23.0523; and model 3, (0.132 • SFSUM) + 3.530. The R2 values were 0.94 for model 1, 0.93 for model 2, and 0.91 for model 3 (for all, P < .001). Conclusions: The equations developed provide an accurate way to assess DEXA%Fat In collegiate football players using standard anthropométrie measures so athletic trainers and coaches can monitor these athletes at increased health risk due to increased size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the study that compares the changes in physical fitness, body weight and body composition in physically inactive, overweight and obese adults after 12 weeks of land treadmill (LTM) or UTM training. The study found that after LTM and UTM training, the body weight, body fat percentage and the fat mass of an obese person were significantly reduced. It concludes that UTM and LTM training are equally capable of improving aerobic fitness and body composition in physically inactive overweight individuals, but UTM training may induce increases in lean body mass.

The article reports a study which was conducted to evaluate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and percent body fat (%Fat) in collegiate football athletes (FBA). The results revealed that the relationship between BMI and %Fat differed in FBA and comparison group. Using current BMI thresholds for obesity in FBA may result in misleading inference about health risk.