ADIPOSITY AND REGIONAL BODY-FAT DISTRIBUTION IN PHYSICALLY ACTIVE YOUNG AND MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that age does not directly influence body composition or regional body fat distribution throughout middle age in women. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SUBJECTS: Thirty female enduran ce athletes of similar competitive ranking ranging in age from 23-56 y ears. MEASUREMENTS: Body composition (hydrodensitometry and skinfolds) and regional body fat distribution (waist and hip circumference and t ricep, subscapular, suprailiac, abdomen and thigh skinfolds); maximal oxygen uptake. RESULTS: In contrast to the age-related increases in to tal and regional body fat levels and decreases in fat-free mass in the general population of women, there were no significant trends for cha nges in body composition or regional body fat distribution in our cros s-section of highly physically active subjects with age. CONCLUSION: T hese findings suggest that age-related increases in total body fat and decreases in fat-free mass may be a result of reduced chronic physica l activity levels with age rather than an inevitable consequence of th e aging process.