Anthropometric Characteristics of Chilean amateur Triathletes: A pilot study

Authors

  • Jorge A Sanhueza Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor
  • Carlos Bahamondes-Avila Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor
  • Claudio Hernández-Mosqueira Departamento de Ciencias de la Actividad Física, Universidad de Los Lagos, Puerto Montt http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9392-2319
  • Daniela Abarzua-Mandiola Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor
  • Tomás Zambrano Centro de Biología Molecular y Farmacogenética, Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco
  • Luis A Salazar Centro de Biología Molecular y Farmacogenética, Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14306/renhyd.21.3.374

Keywords:

Anthropometry, Body Composition, Somatotypes, Swimming, Bicycling, Running

Abstract

Introduction: Anthropometric characteristics of triathletes are considered an important determinant of athletic performance. The aim of this study was to characterize the anthropometric profile of a group of Chilean amateur triathletes participating of the 2014 half Ironman developed in Pucon, Chile.

Material and Methods: Thirty-seven male triathletes with an average age of 29.0 years and 74.3kg were evaluated. 25 anthropometric variables were measured. The pentacompartimental body composition and somatotype were calculated. Descriptive estatistic was used to characterize Chilean amateur triathletes.

Results: Fractionation results showed mean values (and standard deviation) of fat mass 23.9% (3.5), muscle 48.0% (3.4), residual mass 11.6 (8.0), bone mass 11.3 (1.3) and skin mass 5.2 (0.3). There were also significant differences in skin mass between the categories ≤24 years and ≥35 years, and presence of a lower percentage of adipose mass and greater muscle mass in the group 25-34 years. The somatotype presents a meso-endomorphic dominance, with significant differences in the endomorphic component, which was higher in ≥35 years, and ectomorphic, which was higher in ≤24 years.

Conclusions: The morphological characteristics of Chilean amateur triathletes are not similar to those of professional triathletes, observing high percentages of fat mass, 6 folds sum and endomorphy; low muscle mass and bone level and reduced ectomorphy, which could affect their performance.

Author Biographies

Jorge A Sanhueza, Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor

Coordinador de Investigación

Escuela de Medicina

Facultad de Ciencias

Universidad Mayor

Carlos Bahamondes-Avila, Escuela de Kinesiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor

Escuela de Medicina, Universidad Mayor, Sede Temuco, Chile.

Claudio Hernández-Mosqueira, Departamento de Ciencias de la Actividad Física, Universidad de Los Lagos, Puerto Montt

Academico Departamento de Ciencias de la Actividad Física, Universidad de Los Lagos, Puerto Montt, Chile

Daniela Abarzua-Mandiola, Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor

Escuela de Medicina, Universidad Mayor, Sede Temuco, Chile.

Tomás Zambrano, Centro de Biología Molecular y Farmacogenética, Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco

Centro de Biología Molecular y Farmacogenética, Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.

Luis A Salazar, Centro de Biología Molecular y Farmacogenética, Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco

Centro de Biología Molecular y Farmacogenética, Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.

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Published

2017-10-27

How to Cite

Sanhueza, J. A., Bahamondes-Avila, C., Hernández-Mosqueira, C., Abarzua-Mandiola, D., Zambrano, T., & Salazar, L. A. (2017). Anthropometric Characteristics of Chilean amateur Triathletes: A pilot study. Spanish Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 21(3), 271–279. https://doi.org/10.14306/renhyd.21.3.374

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