Comparison of measured and predicted residual lung volume in determining body composition of collegiate wrestlers.

This investigation compared percent fat obtained via underwater weighing using measured and predicted residual lung volume (RLV) in euhydrated and hypohydrated collegiate wrestlers (N = 67). RLV was measured using O(2) rebreathing or O(2) dilution and predicted using 3 equations-Equation 1: (0.019 x height [cm]) + (0.0115 x age [years]) - 2.24; Equation 2: (0.017 x age [years]) + (0.06858 x height [in.]) - 3.477; and Equation 3: (0.0275 age [years]) + (0.0189 height [cm]) - 2.6139. Percent fat determined using RLV Equation 2 did not differ from the value obtained using measured RLV in the euhydrated (10.9 +/- 5.1 vs. 11.5 +/- 5.6% fat) or hypohydrated (10.8 +/- 5.1 vs. 12.3 +/- 5.6% fat) trials. All other percent fat values differed (p < 0.05) from the value obtained using measured RLV in euhydrated subjects. The use of RLV Equation 2 may be a practical alternative to measured RLV in determining percent fat in euhydrated and hypohydrated collegiate wrestlers.

A new handheld device for measuring resting metabolic rate and oxygen consumption.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to test a new handheld device, the BodyGem (HealtheTech Inc., Golden, CO), that measures resting metabolic rate (RMR). SUBJECTS/DESIGN: Sixty-three adults (43 women, 20 men) (mean+/-SD, age 41.3+/-11.2 years and body mass index, 26.5+/-6.6 kg/m(2)) were tested during two separate sessions within a 2-week period, and, in each session, two BodyGem and two Douglas bag RMR measurements were made in a random and counterbalanced order. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Resting oxygen consumption and energy expenditure. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: A 2 (methods) x 4 (time points) repeated measures ANOVA, Pearson product-moment coefficients, Bland-Altman plots. RESULTS: Within session reliability for measurement of O(2), consumption was high on both days for the BodyGem (r=0.97). During the 4 single tests, BodyGem and Douglas bag O(2) consumption values were significantly correlated (r=0.81-0.87), with SEEs ranging from 22 to 28 mL. min(-1). Mean O(2) consumption and RMR values for all 4 tests were 241+/-46 and 240+/-45 mL x min(-1) (r=0.91, SEE 18.7 mL x min(-1)) and 1,657+/-324 and 1,650+/-307 kcals x day(-1) (r=0.91, SEE 134 kcals x day(-1)) for the BodyGem and Douglas bag methods, respectively. APPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that the BodyGem is an accurate and reliable device for measuring oxygen consumption and calculating RMR during repeated tests within a day, single tests on separate days, or when measurements are averaged.

Evaluation of air displacement for assessing body composition of collegiate wrestlers.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy of air displacement plethysmography (ADP) by using the BOD POD in comparison with hydrostatic weighing (HW) in a collegiate wrestling population in hydrated and acutely dehydrated states. METHODS: Body composition was determined by ADP, HW, and three-site skinfolds (SK) in 66 NCAA Division I collegiate wrestlers before and after acute dehydration (2.6% reduction in body mass). For all methods, body density (D(b)) was converted to percent body fat (%BF) by using the Brozek equation for Euro-Americans and the Schutte equation for African-Americans. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between ADP and HW for D(b), %BF, and fat-free mass (FFM) in either the hydrated or dehydrated states. The standard errors of the estimate for %BF estimated from ADP with HW as the reference method were 2.12% (hydrated) and 2.16% (dehydrated); prediction errors were 2.35% (hydrated) and 2.49% (dehydrated). Bland-Altman plots of D(b) and %BF showed no systematic bias, and 64 out 66 subjects fell within the 95% limits of agreement (mean difference +/- 2 SD) for both variables. For SK, %BF was significantly higher than HW in both the hydrated and dehydrated state. All methods (ADP, HW, and SK) showed a significant decrease in FFM from the hydrated to the dehydrated state. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the BOD POD air displacement method provides similar estimates of D (b), %BF, and FFM when compared with HW in a heterogeneous collegiate wrestling population during hydrated and acutely dehydrated states. Pretest guidelines to ensure normal hydration status before body composition assessment using any method must be followed to minimize measurement error in %BF.

Physiological profile of an elite freestyle wrestler preparing for competition: a case study.

The purpose of the present investigation was to describe the physiological changes of a nationally ranked older elite freestyle wrestler during a 7-month observation period as he prepared for the 2000 Olympic freestyle wrestling trials. A 33-year-old male wrestler was evaluated 3 times during the study for measurements of body composition, resting energy expenditure, maximal oxygen consumption, isometric strength, anaerobic power and capacity, nutritional intake, and various serum plasma constituents. Body weight decreased by 1 kg, which consisted of fat-free mass (FFM), whereas body fat remained stable at 5.8%. Muscular strength and aerobic power were maintained throughout the study. Measures of anaerobic work capacity tended to be higher and blood lactate lower as the subject progressed throughout the investigation. All serum plasma constituents were within clinically normal ranges and remained relatively stable. Despite a small loss of FFM, the subject was able to maintain muscular strength and aerobic fitness while concomitantly enhancing anaerobic capacity and power capabilities throughout the study period as he prepared for the 2000 Olympic freestyle wrestling trials.