Author(s): TANAKA-HASEGAWA, T., ZEMPO-MIYAKI, A., KISHI, M., KADOYA, H., MAKIO, S., KUROSAKA, Y., MACHIDA, S. , Institution: JOSAI INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY, Country: JAPAN, Abstract-ID: 2002

INTRODUCTION:
Excessive visceral fat accumulation increases the risk of cardiovascular and lifestyle-related diseases. We previously reported that visceral fat area (VFA) was associated with lipid metabolic blood parameters in Japanese collegiate female athletes. In general, individuals with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25.0 kg/m2 are classified as “obese” in Japan. However, it remains unclear whether this BMI criterion is appropriate for athletes in different sports. Furthermore, potential differences in visceral fat and metabolic risk according to sport type have not been fully examined.
This study aimed to investigate sport-type differences in VFA and blood metabolic risk by sport type among Japanese collegiate female athletes.
METHODS:
The participants were 69 Japanese collegiate female students (softball athletes, n = 13; rugby athletes, n = 22; throwing athletes, n = 21; non-athletes, n = 13). Body composition measurements and blood sampling were taken in the early morning after an overnight fast. The VFA and waist circumference (WC) were measured using abdominal bioelectrical impedance analysis (Panasonic, EW-FA90). The blood parameters were as follows: TP, Alb, AST, ALT, γ-GTP, T-cho, LDL-cho, HDL-cho, TG, BUN, CRE, UA, glucose, and HbA1c. Analysis of covariance and multiple linear regression were performed to determine predictors of VFA.
RESULTS:
There was no significant difference in VFA among softball athletes (47 ± 24 cm²), rugby athletes (43 ± 12 cm²), throwing athletes (61 ± 30 cm²) and non-athletes (53 ± 44 cm²). No athletes with VFA ≥100 cm² were observed in those with a BMI of 25.0–29.9 kg/m², but two athletes were identified in the BMI ≥30.0 kg/m².
BMI was a significant predictor of VFA (p < 0.001, adjusted R²=0.73), whereas sport type and the interaction between sport type and BMI were not significant. After adjustment for BMI, rugby athletes had significantly lower VFA than throwing athletes (p < 0.01). In contrast, no significant difference was observed between softball athletes and throwing athletes (p = 0.679).
At least one glucose and lipid metabolic risk factor was present in 11 of the 56 athletes (20%). There were not significant differences in glucose and lipid metabolic risk were observed among athletes with BMI < 25.0 kg/m² across sport types. We observed significant differences in athletes with a BMI of 25.0–29.9 kg/m² (p < 0.05) across differences sport types. In the BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m², only throwing athletes were included, and 3 of 5 athletes (60%) had at least one metabolic risk factor.

CONCLUSION:
Our present data suggested that although BMI is an important indicator for assessing VFA in female collegiate athletes, a BMI cut-off of 25.0 kg/m² may not be appropriate to uniformly classify individuals as “obesity”. Moreover, as BMI increases, assessment of blood parameters related to glucose and lipid metabolism should also be considered, depending on the sport type.