Evaluation of Body Composition in CrossFit® Athletes and the Relation with Their Results in Official Training

Abstract

CrossFit® is a high-intensity sport that combines weightlifting, gymnastic skills, and cardiovascular exercises. To find the anthropometric references that define the optimal body composition, it is essential to first find an optimal body composition for one’s physical preparation. The objective of this study is to describe the anthropometric characteristics of 27 Spanish CrossFit® athletes, 19 males aged 39 years old (24–44) and 8 females aged 28 years old (23–40), and how these characteristics influenced their performance. The athletes performed the Fran, Cindy, and Kelly workouts, establishing minimum marks, and the CrossFit Total workout to assess maximum strength. Significant differences were not found in time and repetitions between sexes in skill training, although there was a positive correlation r = 0.876 (p < 0.001) between muscle mass and the Total CrossFit result. We can conclude that the CrossFit® athlete has a low amount of fat mass and a small relative size, which is an advantage when training with bodyweight exercises, and a high muscle mass that provide benefits when strength training. In addition, despite executing movements from a multitude of disciplines, the physical demands for lifting heavy loads resulted in the anthropometric values of athletes being more similar to elite weightlifting athletes than in other sports.

Influence of Biological Maturation Status on Kinanthropometric Characteristics, Physical Fitness and Diet in Adolescent Male Handball Players

“…In fact, in our study, it has been observed that muscle mass also increases as biological maturation advances, showing that early maturers have the most muscle mass. In previous research with adult athletes, where they also observed elevated BMI values, they concluded that it was due to the high development of muscle mass or fat-free mass, and to correctly classify the athlete population as overweight and obese, fat mass should be used [63,64]. However, these investigations were carried out in the adult athlete population, and this research is one of the first that assesses the classification of BMI in adolescent athletes and relates it to maturation.…”

“…However, these investigations were carried out in the adult athlete population, and this research is one of the first that assesses the classification of BMI in adolescent athletes and relates it to maturation. Therefore, more research is needed, both in handball players and in other sports modalities, to find out whether biological maturation influences BMI or whether the increase in BMI is only due to the development of muscle mass caused by this process [63,64].…”

Do Muscle Mass and Body Fat Differ Between Elite and Amateur Natural Physique Athletes on Competition Day? A Preliminary, Cross-Sectional, Anthropometric Study

“…This method was selected over other approaches because it is a noninvasive technique validated in cadavers for body composition measurements and is both portable and cost effective (20,26). Moreover, this method is also valid for athletes or muscular individuals (16,19). Notably, the technical measurement error for the intraobserver anthropometrist at ISAK Level II is reported to be #7.5% for skinfolds and # 1.5% for breadths, girths, body mass, and height (8), which ensures accurate estimates of body composition with a low level of error.…”

“…Historically, researchers have attempted to estimate different anthropometric variables and body composition measures using diverse techniques, such as dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), bioelectrical impedance (BI), anthropometry, and other indirect and doubly indirect methods (15). Anthropometry is a scientific discipline that assesses shape, size, composition, proportionality, and bodily function to establish their relationship with nutrition, exercise, and sports performance (19,21). To ensure consistency in approaches, terminology, and practices, as well as to obtain precise and valid measurements, the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) developed a standardized protocol that facilitates improved data comparison and reproducibility across different laboratories (6).…”

Somatotype and bioelectrical impedance vector analysis of Italian CrossFit® practitioners

“…CrossFit® stands out as a sport that has witnessed substantial growth in athlete participation over the past two decades [ 1 ]. Characterized by high-intensity regimens integrating weightlifting, calisthenics, and cardiovascular exercises, its workouts exhibit notable variability due to the comprehensive array of exercises involved [ 2 ]. The foundation of CrossFit® revolves around consistently varying functional movements at high intensity to enhance fitness and promote health [ 3 ].…”