An increase in fat mass index predicts a deterioration of running speed
Open accessAbstract
A low fat mass is associated with a good running performance. This study explores whether modifications in body composition predicted changes in running speed. We included people who underwent several measurements of body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis between 1999 and 2016, at the “Course de l’Escalade”, taking place yearly in Geneva. Body composition was reported as a fat-free mass index (FFMI) and fat mass index (FMI). Running distances (men: 7.2 km; women: 4.8 km) and running times were used to calculate speed in km/h. We performed multivariate linear mixed regression models to determine whether modifications of body mass index, FFMI, FMI or the combination of FFMI and FMI predicted changes in running speed. The study population included 377 women (1419 observations) and 509 men (2161 observations). Changes in running speed were best predicted by the combination of FFMI and FMI. Running speed improved with a reduction of FMI in both sexes (women: ß −0.31; 95% CI −0.35 to −0.27, p < 0.001. men: ß −0.43; 95% CI −0.48 to −0.39, p < 0.001) and a reduction of FFMI in men (ß −0.20; 95% CI −0.26 to −0.15, p < 0.001). Adjusted for body composition, the decline in running performance occurred from 50 years onward, but appeared earlier with a body mass, FFMI or FMI above the median value at baseline. Changes of running speed are determined mostly by changes in FMI. The decline in running performance occurs from 50 years onward but appears earlier in people with a high body mass index, FFMI or FMI at baseline.
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Using normalizations for FM (e.g., fat mass index - FMI) may lead to different and partly contradictory results.
“Using normalizations for FM (e.g., fat mass index - FMI) may lead to different and partly contradictory results [116].”
From Definition and diagnostic criteria for sarcopenic obesity: ESPEN and EASO consensus statement (2022) · cites this paper as [116]
The Methods section defines FMI as fat mass divided by height squared, and the Results section reports that models using FMI and FFMI predicted running speed somewhat differently from a BMI model. But the paper does not show that normalizing fat mass produces contradictory results; its FMI findings consistently associate lower FMI with faster running. (LLM, conf=0.79)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe issue of normalization of FM by height is substantially less studied and may potentially lead to relevant differences in diagnosis and prevalence of SO.
“While the group advocates normalization of skeletal muscle mass by body weight, the issue of normalization of FM by height is substantially less studied and may potentially lead to relevant differences in diagnosis and prevalence of SO.”
From Definition and diagnostic criteria for sarcopenic obesity: ESPEN and EASO consensus statement (2022) · cites this paper as [116]
The Methods (§2.2; page unavailable) state that fat mass is divided by height squared to calculate fat mass index. The paper studies running speed, however; it does not establish that height normalization is less studied or that it may change the diagnosis or prevalence of sarcopenic obesity. (LLM, conf=0.80)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
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Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
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- Authors
- Genton, L., Mareschal, J., Karsegard, V. L., Achamrah, N., Delsoglio, M., Pichard, C., Graf, C., & Herrmann, F. R.
- Affiliations
- University of Geneva (CH)
- Corresponding author
- Genton, Laurence
- ORCID
- Venue
- Nutrients
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2019-03-25
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 701
- ISSN
- 2072-6643 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC6471649
- OpenAlex
- W2925234987
- Cited by
- 20
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2025: 6 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2
- FWCI
- 2.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- dx.doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Nutrients (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Archive ouverte UNIGE (University of Geneva) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Archive ouverte UNIGE (University of Geneva) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Body Composition Measurement Techniques
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Keywords
- fat mass index, fat-free mass index, body composition, running speed, running performance, body mass index, aging, endurance running, sex differences
- MeSH terms
- Adipose Tissue, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Body Composition, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Running, Multivariate Analysis, Linear Models, Young Adult
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