Seasonal Changes in Body Fat Ratios of Elite Athletes

Abstract

In this study, the changes in the body fat percentage (BFP) of 38 athletes prepared for KyrgyzstanNational Team qualification competitions before 2016 Summer Olympic Games have beenexamined within the scope of the Project (BAP) during one season training period. The study hasbeen applied out on 35 male and 3 female national athletes including 9 male Greco-Roman stylewrestlers (244.5 years), 10 male freestyle wrestlers (22.103.21 years), 8 male judokas (23.61.89years), 8 male athletes (292.87 years) and 3 female athletes (21.672.08 years).The body fat ratios(BFRs) of the participating athletes have been measured totally 3 times, immediately before the 6month training period, 3 months later and 6 months after the period. In order to determine body fatpercentage, skinfold thicknesses have been measured with HOLTAIN brand skinfold caliper and thebody fat percentages have been determined according to the LANGE formula. The statisticalevaluation of the findings has been carried out by SPSS 21.0 computer package program and thearithmetic mean and standard deviation of all parameters have been calculated. Differences in(P0.05) level were accepted as significant. BFRs in Greco-Roman wrestling, free style wrestling,judo and male athletes haven’t shown statistical difference according to measurement times(P0.05). However, each measurement has been determined numerically lower than the previousone. The lowest average of women athletes has been observed in the second measures.Conclusion; Although each measure in body fat percentages of wrestlers and judokas has notbeen found statistically significant with respect to the previous measurement, the lowreflectance has been interpreted as a conscious body weight loss for adjusting the weight for theathletes who were competitors as they approached the competition period.