Objective: To test the hypothesis that age does not directly influence body composition or regional body fat distribution throughout middle age in women.
Design: Cross-sectional.
Subjects: Thirty female endurance athletes of similar competitive ranking ranging in age from 23-56 years.
Measurements: Body composition (hydrodensitometry and skinfolds) and regional body fat distribution (waist and hip circumference and tricep, subscapular, suprailiac, abdomen and thigh skinfolds); maximal oxygen uptake.
Results: In contrast to the age-related increases in total and regional body fat levels and decreases in fat-free mass in the general population of women, there were no significant trends for changes in body composition or regional body fat distribution in our cross-section of highly physically active subjects with age.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that age-related increases in total body fat and decreases in fat-free mass may be a result of reduced chronic physical activity levels with age rather than an inevitable consequence of the aging process.