Body composition changes were evaluated in 55 men between the ages of 17 to 59 years following a 3-day/week, 10-week program of jogging. During this training period the subjects jogged a mean total of 51.75 miles in 413 minutes, at an average rate of 200 m/min. Small but significant reductions were found in body weight and percentage body fat (increased body density), although the total lean body mass remained essentially unchanged. Four of seven skinfold measurements of subcutaneous fat and one of two abdominal circumferences were significantly reduced. These changes in skinfold and circumference measurements were not highly correlated to the changes in body fat (kg) and body density, thus questioning the validity of using individual skinfolds solely to estimate alterations in body composition. Lastly, as expected, the relative amount of body fat was found to have a substantial negative influence on the performance of speed or endurance-related activities requiring the movement of the body mass.
Wilmore et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
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