The purpose of this study was twofold, 1) to classify the body composition of college women into certain types by combining percent body fat, and lean body mass per unit of height and 2) to clarify the characteristics of physical fitness performance in each group, because we have as yet no reports on physical fitness in such a way.
The subjects were 205 college women (average age 19.1) in Morioka, Iwate, Japan, and we collected data on body forms and physical fitness performance of subjects in 1989 and 1990. We calculated body density by the SUZUKI-NAGAMINE skinfold thickness method for Japanese, and also % FAT by the BROZEK formula. In order to check significant differences of mean values for each type, we employed the t-test, and a statistically significant level of 0.05.
The findings were as follows;
1. We classified the body composition of college women into 9 types; Aa, Ab, Ac, Ba, Bb, Bc, Ca, Cb, Cc by combination of % FAT and unit LBM. Type Aa has much more % FAT and unit LBM, while type Cc has much less % FAT and unit LBM. We observed that each type has a particular body form; for example, type Aa students generally have average height but are heavier, whereas type Cc students are usually shorter and lighter.
2. Type Ba showed the best physical fitness performance of the 9 types. This type has a body composition of average % FAT and much more unit LBM. Type Ab, with much more % FAT and average unit LBM followed type Ba. We observed that a little too much body fat, is not always a negative factor in so far as there is a difinite level of the lean body mass needed for good physical fitness performance of college women.
3. Type Ac showed the worst physical fitness performance of the 9 types. This type has a body composition of much more % FAT and much less unit LBM. Type Cc, with much less % FAT and unit LBM showed considerably bad physical fitness performance as well. We observed that lean body mass is a very important factor, and the body composition with much more body fat and much less body mass is the poorest condition for the physical fitness performance of college women.
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