Fat-Free Mass Index for Athletes
Normative profiles and applications for collegiate athletes
The study "Fat-Free Mass Index in Sport: Normative Profiles and Applications for Collegiate Athletes" explores the use of the Fat-Free Mass Index (FFMI) as a body composition metric for athletes. FFMI is calculated by dividing fat-free mass in kilograms by height in meters squared.
PMID: 39074219
Key Points
FFMI provides a height-adjusted assessment of fat-free mass, allowing for comparisons across athletes of different sizes.
The study aims to establish normative FFMI profiles for collegiate athletes across various sports.
FFMI can be used to categorise an athlete's fat-free mass as low, moderate, or high.
Methods and Results
The researchers collected data from 2,333 NCAA Division I athletes (1,455 males and 878 females) across 15 sports. They used dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to measure body composition and calculate FFMI.
Key findings include:
Male athletes had significantly higher FFMI values compared to female athletes.
Football players exhibited the highest FFMI values among male athletes.
For female athletes, basketball players had the highest FFMI values.
Practical Applications
FFMI can be used to set realistic body composition goals for athletes.
It may help in assessing performance potential and injury risk.
Coaches and trainers can use FFMI to track an athlete's progress over time.
Key Takeaways
FFMI offers a more comprehensive view of an athlete's body composition compared to traditional metrics like body fat percentage.
The study provides normative FFMI data for collegiate athletes, which can serve as a reference for coaches and sports professionals.
Further research is needed to establish optimal FFMI ranges for different sports, positions, and competitive levels.
This study contributes to the growing body of research on FFMI and its potential applications in sports performance and athlete health management.
Reference
Jagim AR, Harty PS, Jones MT, Fields JB, Magee M, Smith-Ryan AE, Luedke J, Kerksick CM. Fat-Free Mass Index in Sport: Normative Profiles and Applications for Collegiate Athletes. J Strength Cond Res. 2024 Sep 1;38(9):1687-1693. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004864. Epub 2024 Jul 23. PMID: 39074219.