ABSTRACT
Ssireum, the traditional Korean sport, is very popular at both amateur and professional levels. Ssireum players are prone to be obese which related to the chronic disease in their later life. The purpose of the study was to compare the anthropometric measurements, quality of diet, and blood parameters of Ssireum players with those of subjects who were matched body mass index, gender and age. Participants in the 3 groups, Ssireum players (SP, n = 15), regular moderate exerciser (RME, n = 15, > 3 times /wk, > 20 min/time) and intermittent light exerciser (ILE, n = 14) groups. Anthropometric measurements included height, weight, fat mass (by Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry), lean body mass, triceps and thigh skin-fold thickness, mid-arm, waist, hip and thigh circumference. Dietary assessments were accomplished using 3-days food records, diet quality index (DQI), dietary variety score (DVS). Blood levels of lipids, leptin and insulin were analyzed. As a results lean body mass and mid-arm circumference were significantly higher in Ssireum players than those of other groups (p < 0.01). Total body fat, trunk fat, abdominal skin fold thickness and waist-hip ratio were significantly lower in SP group than those of other groups (p < 0.01). DVS were higher however, dietary quality was low in Ssireum players than in other groups. There were no differences among the 3 groups in regard to blood total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and glucose levels however, leptin level was low in Ssireum players. These results indicate that Ssireum players had significantly higher lean body mess and lower body fat when these were compared with regular moderate exerciser and intermittent light exerciser. Blood leptin levels of Ssireum players were low but blood lipid profiles were not significantly different.
