Özet:

Weight-adjusted indexes that reflect muscularity and fatness have recently gained great momentum in exercise and sports sciences as it is considered that these indexes may more accurately predict general body composition (BC) status, compared to body mass index. To compare BC components and weight-adjusted indexes between young swimmers and non-athlete controls. Thirty-four young volunteers consisting of eighteen swimmers (male n=8; female n=10) and sixteen college students serving as a control group (male n=8; female n=8) participated in this study. BC and whole-body bone mineral density (BMD) were measured using DXA and height-normalized indices of fat mass (FM) and lean mass (LM) was calculated. Two-way (group*sex) ANOVA was used to compare the BC components within and between the groups. No difference in body mass index (BMI), age, body weight was observed between the groups (p>0.05). Swimmers had a greater LM, lean mass index (LMI), and lower total body fat mass percentage (FM%), fat mass index (FMI), and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) (p<0.01) compared to controls. BMD was similar in either group regardless of sex (p>0.05). Male swimmers had lower FM% and FMI and higher LM than female swimmers (p<0.001). BMD was correlated with BMI, LM, LMI, appendicular LMI (r=0.47, 0.55, 0.62, 0.60, respectively; p<0.001) and FM% (r=-0.35; p=0.04). Swimmers showed higher lean and lower fat mass and VAT compared to inactive college students at similar age. Accordingly, swimming improves BC components however, due to the reduced weight-bearing effect it does not seem to increase bone mineral density.