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Influence of subject presentation on interpretation of body composition change after 6 months of self-selected training and diet in athletic males

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European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

High precision body composition assessment methods accurately monitor physique traits in athletes. The acute impact of subject presentation (ad libitum food and fluid intake plus physical activity) on body composition estimation using field and laboratory methods has been quantified, but the impact on interpretation of longitudinal change is unknown. This study evaluated the impact of athlete presentation (standardised versus non-standardised) on interpretation of change in physique traits over time. Thirty athletic males (31.2 ± 7.5 years; 182.2 ± 6.5 cm; 91.7 ± 10.3 kg; 27.6 ± 2.6 kg/m2) underwent two testing sessions on 1 day including surface anthropometry, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS) and air displacement plethysmography (via the BOD POD), with combinations of these used to establish three-compartment (3C) and four-compartment (4C) models.

Methods

Tests were conducted after an overnight fast (BASEam) and ~ 7 h later after ad libitum food/fluid and physical activity (BASEpm). This procedure was repeated 6 months later (POSTam and POSTpm). Magnitude of changes in the mean was assessed by standardisation.

Results

After 6 months of self-selected training and diet, standardised presentation testing (BASEam to POSTam) identified trivial changes from the smallest worthwhile effect (SWE) in fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM) for all methods except for BIS (FM) where there was a large change (7.2%) from the SWE. Non-standardised follow-up testing (BASEam to POSTpm) showed trivial changes from the SWE except for small changes in FFM (BOD POD) of 1.1%, and in FM (3C and 4C models) of 6.4 and 3.5%. Large changes from the SWE were found in FFM (BIS, 3C and 4C models) of 2.2, 1.8 and 1.8% and in FM (BIS) of 6.4%. Non-standardised presentation testing (BASEpm to POSTpm) identified trivial changes from the SWE in FFM except for BIS which was small (1.1%). A moderate change from the SWE was found for BOD POD (3.3%) and large for BIS (9.4%) in FM estimations.

Conclusions

Changes in body composition utilising non-standardised presentation were more substantial and often in the opposite direction to those identified using standardised presentation, causing misinterpretation of change in physique traits. Standardised presentation prior to body composition assessment for athletic populations should be advocated to enhance interpretation of true change.

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Abbreviations

2C model:

Two-compartment model

3C model:

Three-compartment model

4C model:

Four-compartment model

BASEam:

Baseline morning testing session, standardised presentation

BASEpm:

Baseline afternoon testing session, non-standardised presentation

BIS:

Bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy

BM:

Body mass

BMI:

Body mass index

BMC:

Bone mineral content

BOD POD:

Air displacement plethysmography

CV:

Coefficient of variation

D2O:

Deuterium dilution

DXA:

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry

FM:

Fat mass

FFM:

Fat-free mass

LM:

Lean mass

NHANES:

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

POSTam:

Post 6 months morning testing session, standardised presentation

POSTpm:

Post 6 months afternoon testing session, non-standardised presentation

SA:

Surface anthropometry

SD:

Standard deviation

SWE:

Smallest worthwhile effect

TBW:

Total body water

TEM:

Technical error of measurement

%BF:

Percentage of body fat

V TG :

Volume of thoracic gas

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Acknowledgements

The results of this study are presented clearly, honestly, and without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation.

Funding

There were no funding sources for the present study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Health and Sport Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, 4556, Australia

    Ava D. Kerr & Gary J. Slater

  2. School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Tasmania, Launceston, TAS, 7248, Australia

    Nuala M. Byrne

  3. School of Health and Sport Sciences, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, QLD, 4558, Australia

    Ava D. Kerr

Authors
  1. Ava D. Kerr
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  2. Gary J. Slater
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  3. Nuala M. Byrne
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Contributions

The authors’ responsibilities were as follows—AK and GJS: study concept and design; AK: acquisition of data; AK and GJS: analysis and interpretation of data; AK: draft of manuscript; AK, GJS and NB: critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content; AK: statistical analysis; and GJS: study supervision. AK had full access to all of the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity and the accuracy of the data analysis.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ava D. Kerr.

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Communicated by Guido Ferretti.

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Kerr, A.D., Slater, G.J. & Byrne, N.M. Influence of subject presentation on interpretation of body composition change after 6 months of self-selected training and diet in athletic males. Eur J Appl Physiol 118, 1273–1286 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-018-3861-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-018-3861-8

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