Sex Differences in the Association Between Muscular Strength and Adiposity in Healthy Adults

Abstract

Although sex differences in body composition are well established, differences in the relationship between adiposity and muscular strength remain elusive. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine sex differences in the relationship between muscular strength and adiposity in adults. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WtHR), skinfold, and bench press were assessed on 140 males and females aged 18-40 years. Normalized strength (NS) was determined by dividing bench press one-repetition maximum by body mass. Using linear regression, positive associations between NS and BMI were found in males [p=0.003, parameter estimate (PE)=0.051] and females (p=0.010, PE=0.021); inverse associations between NS and body fat percentage were found in males (p<0.001, PE=-0.035) and females (p=0.015, PE=-0.008); an inverse association between NS and WC was observed only amongst females (p=0.037, PE=-0.011); and no significant associations were found between NS and (WtHR) for either sex. Although the current study design does not permit determining causality, the findings suggest that resistance training may be more effective in reducing abdominal adiposity in females.