Body Composition Changes in College Athletes during the COVID-19 Lockdown.

Abstract

Background: In the spring of 2020, COVID-19 shocked the college sports world with athletes having seasons abruptly canceled and sent home under mandatory lockdown orders. Athletes and athletic performance staff had no idea when they would be back on campus or have access to on-campus athletics facilities. This situation caused substantial concern regarding potential adverse changes to athletic performance and body composition in the athletes. The purpose of this study is to assess how weight, muscle mass, and fat mass changed in collegiate athletes while they were prohibited from using on-campus athletic facilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Body weight, fat mass, and muscle mass were measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis as part of routine care for 77 collegiate athletes (n = 43 male, n = 34 female) pre-lockdown (Jan 2020) and shortly after their return to on-campus training (Aug/Sept 2020). 4 questions were asked to assess eating behavior and physical activity. Pre- and post-lockdown body composition data and survey data were analyzed using ANOVA and ANCOVA (SAS 9.4). To account for differences in body size, height was used to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI), Fat Mass Index (FMI), and muscle mass index (MMI) for assessing changes in weight, fat mass, and muscle mass, respectively.

Results: No significant differences by sex in BMI or MMI were detected between pre and post lockdown. FMI changed according to sex, males lost FMI and females gained FMI.

Conclusion: These data demonstrate potential sex differences in fat mass changes among college athletes during a mandatory absence from on-campus athletic facilities and in-person support from coaching and performance staff. Future research should determine whether future breaks - either anticipated or unanticipated-influence body composition and what the drivers of changes in body composition may be. Such research may help to develop sex-specific strategies for maintaining optimal body composition and athletic performance during extended breaks from structured athletic training.