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BODY COMPOSITION CHANGES DURING SUMMER TRAINING AMONG COLLEGIATE MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS

Abstract

Shuan Kuo, Aston Dommel, Drew Sayer. University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.

Title: Body Composition Changes during Summer Training among Collegiate Men’s Basketball Players Authors: Shaun Kuo, Aston Dommel, and R. Drew Sayer Institutions: Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham Background: Body composition is an important determinant of athletic performance that is directly influenced by training and detraining. Collegiate athletes experience substantial variability in training intensity during the course of a season, but little research has been conducted to track changes in body composition across periods of intense training and breaks from structured sport-related activities. Methods: Body weight and composition were measured in members of a collegiate men’s basketball team over the course of an 11-week summer training period. DXA scans were completed at the beginning of summer training (Pre), at the end of the 7-week intense training period (Post), and after a 4-week break from structured on-campus training (Break). Paired t-tests were used for comparisons of body weight, fat mass, fat free mass, and percent body fat at Pre vs. Post, Pre vs. Break, and Post vs. Break. Data are presented as mean ± SD. Results: Body weight was not significantly different throughout the summer training period. Total fat free mass increased 1.8 ± 2.2 kg from Pre to Post training (p = 0.007), but these fat free mass gains were partially lost during the 4-week break (-0.89 ± 1.1 kg, p = 0.006). Non-significant reductions in total fat mass were observed from Pre to Post training that were maintained throughout the 4-week break. The combined increase in fat free mass and trend towards reduced fat mass resulted in lower % body fat at Post (-0.9 ± 1.2%, p = 0.01) and Break (-0.8 ­± 1.3%, p = 0.03) compared to Pre. Conclusion: These data demonstrate cyclic changes in body composition during a summer training period that could impact athletic performance. Future research should further evaluate potential mediators and moderators of changes in body composition and include performance measures. Research in this capacity may allow strength and conditioning experts to identify strategies to maintain training-induced body composition and performance gains during periods of less structured and intense training.

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