Training load and body composition in adults practicing cyclical exercises

Abstract

Although meta-analyzes point to a weight loss of no more than 3 kg to exercise, body fat of the athletes are below of the population. Then training load may be a determining factor in body composition. This study verified if dose of physical training adopted by exercise practitioners is determinant in body composition. Was a cross-sectional retrospective study carried out with 122 individuals (45.8 {+/-} 13.0 years, 50 men) who practiced cyclic exercises (running, walking or cycling) randomly recruited in six regions which the city was geographically divided. Caloric expenditure was estimated in the trainings based on the frequency, intensity and duration of the exercises and the body composition was assessed by electrical bioimpedance. The subjects practiced 4.3 {+/-} 1.5 weekly sessions, with mean duration of 56.7 {+/-} 28.2 minutes/session and caloric expenditure/day of 410.2 {+/-} 384.1 kcal/day. Linear regression test revealed a negative correlation (p=0.000) between the mean daily expenditure and all measures of adiposity tested (absolute and relative body fat and visceral fat), and evidenced that the training load explains 56% of the proposed model. When adjusted for sex, the correlation remained in men and disappeared in women. Mens with energy expenditure higher than 785 kcal/day presented lower fat stores than congeners with minor diary training load. Conclude that training load adopted by physical exercise practitioners is an influencing factor in the body composition of men, but not of women. Load adopted in conventional programs training seems insufficient to produce adequate body composition.