Abstract
Introduction: Freediving is a sport that combines apnea, breath control, adaptation to hypoxia, high psychophysiological self-regulation, and specific body-related demands. Although the physiological adaptations of freedivers are increasingly investigated, the body composition of competitive freedivers remains relatively poorly described. The aim of this study was to present basic body composition parameters in freediving athletes measured during the World Championship in pool disciplines held in Budapest in early June.
Methods: An anonymous, voluntary, field-based assessment of body composition was performed using a segmental bioelectrical impedance scale, the Tanita BC-545N. The measurements were conducted with the aim of helping athletes better understand their own body composition. The following parameters were analyzed: body fat percentage, body weight, BMI, total body water percentage, visceral fat, muscle mass, physical rating, bone mass, basal metabolic rate, and metabolic, or “biological,” age according to the Tanita algorithm. Results are presented descriptively as mean values and ranges, separately for women and men.
Results: Among female freedivers, the mean body fat percentage was 19.8%, mean body weight 64.3 kg, BMI 22.2, body water 59.1%, visceral fat 3.3, muscle mass 48.8 kg, BMR 1469 kcal, and metabolic age 28.1 years. The mean chronological age of women for whom this information was available was 38.6 years. Among male freedivers, the mean body fat percentage was 13.0%, body weight 77.5 kg, BMI 23.9, body water 63.3%, visceral fat 4.9, muscle mass 64.2 kg, BMR 1944 kcal, and metabolic age 27.1 years. The mean chronological age of men was 40.8 years.
Conclusion: The freediving athletes in this sample showed a favorable body composition profile, with normal BMI, low body fat percentage, low visceral fat, relatively high muscle mass, and high total body water percentage. In both sexes, metabolic age estimated by the Tanita algorithm was lower than chronological age. These findings should be interpreted descriptively, since bioimpedance is influenced by hydration status, previous training, fluid intake, skin temperature, and other measurement conditions. Nevertheless, the results raise an important question: whether regular freediving practice, when combined with adequate training and risk control, may be associated with a favorable body composition profile.
Introduction
Freediving, or breath-hold diving, represents a unique combination of endurance sport, mental control, autonomic regulation, hypoxia tolerance, and precise technical preparation. Unlike many other sports, success in freediving is not determined solely by strength, aerobic capacity, or body build, but also by the ability to control breathing, relax, move economically, tolerate increased CO₂ and reduced O₂ levels, and maintain safe behavior during training and competition.
Contemporary research on freediving most often focuses on acute physiological responses to apnea: bradycardia, peripheral vasoconstriction, changes in cerebral oxygenation, splenic contraction, hypoxia, the risk of syncope, and the neurological consequences of repeated hypoxic episodes. A recent review of the literature emphasizes that competitive freediving involves extreme physiological challenges related to apnea, immersion, and increased ambient pressure, but also that there are substantial individual differences in adaptation and risk.
However, much less is known about the body composition of freedivers. This is surprising, since body composition may play an important role in performance, thermoregulation, buoyancy, muscular economy, energy metabolism, and the general health of athletes. In sports in which body mass, the ratio between fat and muscle, and hydration may influence performance, regular monitoring of body composition can help improve understanding of the training process and individual adaptations.
Bioelectrical impedance analysis, or BIA, is frequently used in sport because it is a non-invasive, fast, practical, and relatively accessible method for estimating body composition. However, its accuracy depends on the standardization of measurement conditions, particularly hydration status, previous physical activity, food and fluid intake, skin temperature, and the characteristics of the population being measured. Therefore, in athletes, BIA results should be interpreted cautiously and, whenever possible, measurement protocols should be standardized.
The Tanita BC-545N is a segmental bioelectrical impedance scale that uses electrodes on the feet and handles, allowing the assessment of total and segmental body composition. According to the manufacturer, the device uses hand grips to provide segmental body composition assessment and rapid measurement of body composition.
The aim of this study was to present basic body composition characteristics of freediving athletes measured during the World Championship in pool disciplines in Budapest and to open a discussion on the health-related meaning of these findings.
Methods
The study was conducted as an observational, descriptive, field-based analysis of body composition in freedivers during the World Championship in pool disciplines held in Budapest in early June.
All participants were measured voluntarily and anonymously, with the aim of better understanding their own body composition. Data were analyzed at group level, without recording or reporting names, contact details, or any other identifying information.
Body composition was measured using the Tanita BC-545N bioelectrical impedance scale. The following parameters were analyzed:
- body fat percentage
- body weight
- BMI
- total body water percentage
- visceral fat
- muscle mass
- physical rating
- bone mass
- BMR
- metabolic, or “biological,” age according to the Tanita algorithm
- chronological age, when available
Results are presented as means and ranges, namely minimum and maximum values. Due to the nature of the sample and the field-based method of data collection, no inferential statistical analysis was performed.
Results
Female freedivers
A total of 9 measurements of female freedivers were included in the analysis. Chronological age was available for 8 participants.
| Parameter |
n |
Mean |
Min |
Max |
| Fat percentage (%) |
9 |
19.8 |
6.2 |
32.1 |
| Weight (kg) |
9 |
64.3 |
54.9 |
82.1 |
| BMI |
8 |
22.2 |
18.2 |
26.9 |
| Body water (%) |
9 |
59.1 |
50.8 |
66.8 |
| Visceral fat |
9 |
3.3 |
1.0 |
7.5 |
| Muscle mass (kg) |
9 |
48.8 |
40.6 |
53.2 |
| Physical rating |
9 |
6.7 |
5 |
9 |
| Bone mass (kg) |
9 |
2.6 |
2.2 |
2.8 |
| BMR (kcal) |
9 |
1469 |
1265 |
1677 |
| Biological/metabolic age |
9 |
28.1 |
14 |
41 |
| Chronological age |
8 |
38.6 |
22 |
56 |
In women, the mean metabolic age according to the Tanita algorithm was approximately 10.5 years lower than the mean chronological age.
Male freedivers
A total of 12 measurements of male freedivers were included in the analysis.
| Parameter |
n |
Mean |
Min |
Max |
| Fat percentage (%) |
12 |
13.0 |
6.9 |
18.6 |
| Weight (kg) |
12 |
77.5 |
65.2 |
89.0 |
| BMI |
11 |
23.9 |
20.4 |
26.7 |
| Body water (%) |
12 |
63.3 |
58.4 |
70.0 |
| Visceral fat |
12 |
4.9 |
1.5 |
8.0 |
| Muscle mass (kg) |
12 |
64.2 |
52.0 |
75.5 |
| Physical rating |
12 |
5.5 |
4 |
8 |
| Bone mass (kg) |
12 |
3.35 |
2.8 |
3.9 |
| BMR (kcal) |
12 |
1944 |
1568 |
2270 |
| Biological/metabolic age |
12 |
27.1 |
15 |
38 |
| Chronological age |
12 |
40.8 |
33 |
53 |
In men, the mean metabolic age according to the Tanita algorithm was approximately 13.7 years lower than the mean chronological age.
Discussion
These results show that the freedivers measured during the World Championship in Budapest had a highly favorable body composition profile. In both sexes, mean BMI was within the normal range, while visceral fat values were low. Men had a mean body fat percentage of 13.0%, and women 19.8%, which is consistent with expectations for trained individuals, although it should be kept in mind that optimal values depend on sex, age, discipline, training level, and individual physiology.
A particularly interesting finding is the high mean total body water percentage: 59.1% in women and 63.3% in men. In bioimpedance analysis, this parameter should be interpreted carefully, since BIA directly depends on the electrical conductivity of tissues, which is strongly related to the amount and distribution of body water. Therefore, changes in hydration status may affect estimates of body fat and muscle mass. This is especially important in athletic populations, where training, sweating, fluid intake, salt intake, previous apnea, travel, and the timing of measurement may influence the result. Reviews of the literature on BIA in athletes emphasize that the method is useful, but that it requires protocol standardization and cautious interpretation.
The finding of low visceral fat may be potentially important from a health perspective. In the general population, visceral fat is associated with metabolic risk, insulin resistance, and cardiometabolic disease. In this sample, values were low in both women and men, which may indicate a favorable metabolic profile. However, since laboratory parameters, blood pressure, lipid status, glucose, insulin, and inflammatory markers were not measured, it cannot be concluded that these athletes have a lower metabolic risk. It can only be stated that body composition assessed by BIA suggests a favorable pattern.
One of the most interesting findings is the difference between chronological and metabolic age. In women, the mean chronological age was 38.6 years, while the Tanita metabolic age was 28.1 years. In men, the mean chronological age was 40.8 years, while the metabolic age was 27.1 years. This means that, in both sexes, the Tanita algorithm estimated metabolic age as substantially lower than actual chronological age.
This finding is attractive for communication with athletes and the general public, but it must be explained in a scientifically accurate way. “Biological” or “metabolic” age on the Tanita device is not a direct measure of organismal aging, nor is it a substitute for biomarkers of biological aging. It is an algorithmic estimate based primarily on the relationship between body mass, muscle mass, BMR, and expected values for the general population. In other words, lower metabolic age probably reflects favorable body composition rather than necessarily slower biological aging.
For freediving, this is particularly interesting. On one hand, the athletes in this sample have a body composition that appears metabolically favorable: low body fat percentage, low visceral fat, preserved or high muscle mass, and normal BMI. On the other hand, freediving is a sport with specific risks: hypoxia, syncope, “samba,” barotrauma, autonomic stress, and the potential effects of repeated hypoxic exposure. Therefore, it must not be simplistically concluded that freediving is “healthy” based only on body composition. A more accurate statement would be that regularly trained freedivers may have a very favorable body composition, but that the health safety of the sport must be assessed more broadly, including cardiological, neurological, respiratory, and safety-related dimensions. Contemporary reviews of the literature emphasize precisely that freediving involves both adaptations and risks, particularly in elite athletes and repeated breath-hold dives.
Limitations
This analysis has several important limitations.
First, the sample was small and convenient. The study included athletes who voluntarily agreed to be measured, which means that the results may not represent all championship participants or the entire freediving population.
Second, BIA is a field-based method and depends on measurement conditions. Previous training, fluid intake, food intake, time since the last meal, skin temperature, menstrual cycle in women, travel, fatigue, and acute hydration status were not fully controlled.
Third, Tanita metabolic age represents an algorithmic estimate rather than a direct biomarker of biological aging.
Fourth, data on discipline, training history, performance level, championship results, laboratory parameters, or medical history were not collected, so the relationship between body composition, performance, and health risk could not be assessed.
Conclusion
Freedivers measured during the World Championship in pool disciplines in Budapest showed a favorable body composition profile. In women and men, normal BMI, low body fat percentage, low visceral fat, relatively high muscle mass, and high total body water percentage were observed. Metabolic age estimated by the Tanita algorithm was substantially lower than chronological age in both groups.
These results do not prove that freediving itself slows aging or guarantees health, but they indicate that individuals who practice freediving competitively may have a very favorable body composition. This opens the door for further research on how freediving training, apnea, relaxation, breath control, physical activity, and lifestyle influence body composition, metabolic health, and long-term health outcomes.
The most important message for freedivers is this: favorable body composition may be one part of the health picture, but it must not replace safety protocols, medical screening, and a responsible approach to apnea training.
Suggested keywords
freediving; bioimpedance; body composition; visceral fat; metabolic age; apnea; athlete health
References
- Campa F, Toselli S, Mazzilli M, Gobbo LA, Coratella G. Assessment of Body Composition in Athletes: A Narrative Review of Available Methods with Special Reference to Quantitative and Qualitative Bioimpedance Analysis. Nutrients. 2021 May 12;13(5):1620. doi: 10.3390/nu13051620. PMID: 34065984; PMCID: PMC8150618.
- Kasper AM, Langan-Evans C, Hudson JF, Brownlee TE, Harper LD, Naughton RJ, Morton JP, Close GL. Come Back Skinfolds, All Is Forgiven: A Narrative Review of the Efficacy of Common Body Composition Methods in Applied Sports Practice. Nutrients. 2021 Mar 25;13(4):1075. doi: 10.3390/nu13041075. PMID: 33806245; PMCID: PMC8065383.
- Deurenberg P. Limitations of the bioelectrical impedance method for the assessment of body fat in severe obesity. Am J Clin Nutr. 1996 Sep;64(3 Suppl):449S-452S. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/64.3.449S. PMID: 8780361.
- Paganini M, Moon RE, Camporesi EM, Bosco G. Advances in breath-hold diving research: a state-of-the-art review. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2026 Mar;126(3):1223-1243. doi: 10.1007/s00421-025-06093-6. Epub 2025 Dec 19. PMID: 41417060; PMCID: PMC13013280.
- Tanita. BC-545N Segmental Body Composition Monitor. Available from: Tanita BC-545N product information page.
Serbian
Telesna kompozicija takmičara u freedivingu: analiza bioimpedance tokom Svetskog prvenstva u bazenskim disciplinama
Sažetak
Uvod: Freediving je sport koji kombinuje apneju, kontrolu disanja, adaptaciju na hipoksiju, visoku psihofizičku samoregulaciju i specifične telesne zahteve. Iako su fiziološke adaptacije freedivera sve češće predmet istraživanja, telesna kompozicija takmičara ostaje relativno slabo opisana. Cilj ovog rada bio je da se prikažu osnovni parametri telesne kompozicije kod takmičara u freedivingu merenih tokom Svetskog prvenstva u bazenskim disciplinama održanog u Budimpešti početkom juna.
Metod: Urađena je anonimna, dobrovoljna, terenska procena telesne kompozicije pomoću segmentne bioimpedansne vage Tanita BC-545N. Merenje je sprovedeno sa ciljem da sportisti bolje razumeju sopstvenu telesnu kompoziciju. Analizirani su sledeći parametri: procenat telesne masti, telesna masa, BMI, procenat telesne vode, visceralna mast, mišićna masa, physical rating, koštana masa, bazalni metabolizam i metabolička, odnosno “biološka” starost prema Tanita algoritmu. Rezultati su prikazani deskriptivno, kao prosečna vrednost i raspon, posebno za žene i muškarce.
Rezultati: Kod žena freedivera prosečan procenat telesne masti iznosio je 19,8%, prosečna telesna masa 64,3 kg, BMI 22,2, telesna voda 59,1%, visceralna mast 3,3, mišićna masa 48,8 kg, BMR 1469 kcal, a metabolička starost 28,1 godina. Prosečna hronološka starost žena kod kojih je podatak bio dostupan iznosila je 38,6 godina. Kod muškaraca freedivera prosečan procenat telesne masti iznosio je 13,0%, telesna masa 77,5 kg, BMI 23,9, telesna voda 63,3%, visceralna mast 4,9, mišićna masa 64,2 kg, BMR 1944 kcal, a metabolička starost 27,1 godina. Prosečna hronološka starost muškaraca bila je 40,8 godina.
Zaključak: Takmičari u freedivingu u ovom uzorku imali su povoljnu telesnu kompoziciju, uz normalan BMI, nizak procenat telesne masti, nisku visceralnu mast, relativno visoku mišićnu masu i visok procenat telesne vode. Kod oba pola metabolička starost procenjena Tanita algoritmom bila je niža od hronološke starosti. Ove nalaze treba tumačiti kao deskriptivne, jer bioimpedansa zavisi od hidracije, prethodnog treninga, unosa tečnosti, temperature kože i drugih uslova merenja. Ipak, rezultati otvaraju važno pitanje: da li redovno bavljenje freedivingom, uz adekvatan trening i kontrolu rizika, može biti povezano sa povoljnim profilom telesne kompozicije.
Uvod
Freediving, odnosno ronjenje na dah, predstavlja jedinstvenu kombinaciju sporta izdržljivosti, mentalne kontrole, autonomne regulacije, tolerancije na hipoksiju i precizne tehničke pripreme. Za razliku od mnogih drugih sportova, uspeh u freedivingu nije određen samo snagom, aerobnim kapacitetom ili telesnom građom, već i sposobnošću kontrole disanja, relaksacije, ekonomičnosti pokreta, tolerancije na povišen CO₂ i snižen O₂, kao i sigurnosnim ponašanjem tokom treninga i takmičenja.
Savremena istraživanja freedivinga najčešće se bave akutnim fiziološkim odgovorima na apneju: bradikardijom, perifernom vazokonstrikcijom, promenama cerebralne oksigenacije, spleničnom kontrakcijom, hipoksijom, rizikom od sinkope i neurološkim posledicama ponavljanih hipoksičnih epizoda. Nedavni pregled literature naglašava da competitive freediving uključuje ekstremne fiziološke izazove povezane sa apnejom, uranjanjem u vodu i povećanim ambijentalnim pritiskom, ali i da postoje značajne individualne razlike u adaptaciji i riziku.
Međutim, mnogo manje znamo o telesnoj kompoziciji freedivera. To je iznenađujuće, jer telesna kompozicija može imati značajnu ulogu u performansama, termoregulaciji, plovnosti, mišićnoj ekonomičnosti, energetskom metabolizmu i opštem zdravlju sportista. U sportovima u kojima telesna masa, odnos masti i mišića i hidracija mogu uticati na rezultat, redovno praćenje telesne kompozicije može pomoći u boljem razumevanju trenažnog procesa i individualnih adaptacija.
Bioelektrična impedansna analiza, odnosno BIA, često se koristi u sportu zato što je neinvazivna, brza, praktična i relativno lako dostupna metoda za procenu telesne kompozicije. Ipak, njena preciznost zavisi od standardizacije uslova merenja, posebno od hidracije, prethodne fizičke aktivnosti, unosa hrane i tečnosti, temperature kože i karakteristika populacije koja se meri. Zato se kod sportista preporučuje oprezno tumačenje BIA rezultata i, kad god je moguće, standardizacija protokola merenja.
Tanita BC-545N je segmentna bioimpedansna vaga koja koristi elektrode na stopalima i ručkama, što omogućava procenu ukupne i segmentne telesne kompozicije. Proizvođač navodi da uređaj pomoću ručki omogućava segmentnu procenu tela i brzo merenje telesne kompozicije.
Cilj ovog rada bio je da se prikaže osnovna telesna kompozicija takmičara u freedivingu merenih tokom Svetskog prvenstva u bazenskim disciplinama u Budimpešti i da se otvori diskusija o zdravstvenom značenju ovih nalaza.
Metod
Istraživanje je sprovedeno kao opservaciona, deskriptivna, terenska analiza telesne kompozicije freedivera tokom Svetskog prvenstva u bazenskim disciplinama održanog u Budimpešti početkom juna.
Svi učesnici su se merili dobrovoljno, anonimno i sa ciljem boljeg razumevanja sopstvene telesne kompozicije. Podaci su obrađeni grupno, bez navođenja imena, kontakata ili drugih identifikacionih podataka.
Za merenje je korišćena bioimpedansna vaga Tanita BC-545N. Analizirani su sledeći parametri:
- procenat telesne masti
- telesna masa
- BMI
- procenat telesne vode
- visceralna mast
- mišićna masa
- physical rating
- koštana masa
- BMR
- metabolička, odnosno “biološka” starost prema Tanita algoritmu
- hronološka starost, kada je bila dostupna
Rezultati su prikazani kao prosek i raspon, odnosno minimalna i maksimalna vrednost. Zbog prirode uzorka i terenskog načina prikupljanja podataka nije rađena inferencijalna statistika.
Rezultati
Žene freediveri
U analizu je uključeno 9 merenja žena freedivera. Za hronološku starost bilo je dostupno 8 vrednosti.
| Parametar |
n |
Prosek |
Min |
Max |
| Fat percentage (%) |
9 |
19,8 |
6,2 |
32,1 |
| Weight (kg) |
9 |
64,3 |
54,9 |
82,1 |
| BMI |
8 |
22,2 |
18,2 |
26,9 |
| Body water (%) |
9 |
59,1 |
50,8 |
66,8 |
| Visceral fat |
9 |
3,3 |
1,0 |
7,5 |
| Muscle mass (kg) |
9 |
48,8 |
40,6 |
53,2 |
| Physical rating |
9 |
6,7 |
5 |
9 |
| Bone mass (kg) |
9 |
2,6 |
2,2 |
2,8 |
| BMR (kcal) |
9 |
1469 |
1265 |
1677 |
| Biological/metabolic age |
9 |
28,1 |
14 |
41 |
| Hronološka starost |
8 |
38,6 |
22 |
56 |
Kod žena je prosečna metabolička starost prema Tanita algoritmu bila približno 10,5 godina niža od prosečne hronološke starosti.
Muškarci freediveri
U analizu je uključeno 12 merenja muškaraca freedivera.
| Parametar |
n |
Prosek |
Min |
Max |
| Fat percentage (%) |
12 |
13,0 |
6,9 |
18,6 |
| Weight (kg) |
12 |
77,5 |
65,2 |
89,0 |
| BMI |
11 |
23,9 |
20,4 |
26,7 |
| Body water (%) |
12 |
63,3 |
58,4 |
70,0 |
| Visceral fat |
12 |
4,9 |
1,5 |
8,0 |
| Muscle mass (kg) |
12 |
64,2 |
52,0 |
75,5 |
| Physical rating |
12 |
5,5 |
4 |
8 |
| Bone mass (kg) |
12 |
3,35 |
2,8 |
3,9 |
| BMR (kcal) |
12 |
1944 |
1568 |
2270 |
| Biological/metabolic age |
12 |
27,1 |
15 |
38 |
| Hronološka starost |
12 |
40,8 |
33 |
53 |
Kod muškaraca je prosečna metabolička starost prema Tanita algoritmu bila približno 13,7 godina niža od prosečne hronološke starosti.
Diskusija
Ovi rezultati pokazuju da su freediveri mereni tokom Svetskog prvenstva u Budimpešti imali izrazito povoljan profil telesne kompozicije. Kod oba pola prosečan BMI bio je u granicama normalne uhranjenosti, dok su vrednosti visceralne masti bile niske. Muškarci su imali prosečan procenat masti od 13,0%, a žene 19,8%, što je u skladu sa očekivanjima za trenirane osobe, mada treba imati u vidu da optimalne vrednosti zavise od pola, starosti, discipline, nivoa treninga i individualne fiziologije.
Posebno je zanimljiv nalaz visoke prosečne telesne vode: 59,1% kod žena i 63,3% kod muškaraca. Kod bioimpedance ovaj podatak treba tumačiti pažljivo, jer BIA direktno zavisi od električne provodljivosti tkiva, a ona je snažno povezana sa količinom telesne vode i distribucijom tečnosti. Zbog toga se promene u hidraciji mogu odraziti na procenu masti i mišićne mase. U sportskim populacijama to je posebno važno, jer trening, znojenje, unos tečnosti, unos soli, prethodna apneja, putovanje i vreme merenja mogu uticati na rezultat. Pregledi literature o BIA kod sportista naglašavaju da je metoda korisna, ali da zahteva standardizaciju protokola i oprez u interpretaciji.
Nalaz niske visceralne masti je potencijalno zdravstveno važan. Visceralna mast se u opštoj populaciji povezuje sa metaboličkim rizikom, insulinskom rezistencijom i kardiometaboličkim oboljenjima. U ovom uzorku vrednosti su bile niske i kod žena i kod muškaraca, što može ukazivati na povoljan metabolički profil. Ipak, pošto nisu rađeni laboratorijski parametri, krvni pritisak, lipidni status, glikemija, insulin ili markeri inflamacije, ne možemo tvrditi da ovi sportisti imaju niži metabolički rizik; možemo samo reći da telesna kompozicija prema BIA ukazuje na povoljan obrazac.
Jedan od najzanimljivijih nalaza jeste razlika između hronološke i metaboličke starosti. Kod žena je prosečna hronološka starost bila 38,6 godina, dok je Tanita metabolička starost bila 28,1 godina. Kod muškaraca je prosečna hronološka starost bila 40,8 godina, dok je metabolička starost bila 27,1 godina. To znači da je kod oba pola Tanita algoritam procenjivao metaboličku starost kao znatno nižu od stvarne starosti.
Ovaj podatak je atraktivan za komunikaciju sa sportistima i javnošću, ali mora biti naučno korektno objašnjen. “Biološka” ili “metabolička” starost na Taniti nije direktna mera starenja organizma, niti zamena za biomarkere biološkog starenja. Ona je algoritamska procena zasnovana pre svega na odnosu telesne mase, mišićne mase, BMR-a i očekivanih vrednosti za populaciju. Drugim rečima, niža metabolička starost verovatno odražava povoljnu telesnu kompoziciju, a ne nužno usporeno biološko starenje.
Za freediving je ovo posebno zanimljivo. Sa jedne strane, sportisti u ovom uzorku imaju telesnu kompoziciju koja izgleda metabolički povoljno: nizak procenat masti, nisku visceralnu mast, očuvanu ili visoku mišićnu masu i normalan BMI. Sa druge strane, freediving je sport sa specifičnim rizicima: hipoksija, sinkopa, “samba”, barotrauma, autonomni stres i potencijalni efekti ponavljane hipoksije. Zbog toga se ne sme pojednostavljeno zaključiti da je freediving “zdrav” samo na osnovu telesne kompozicije. Ispravnije je reći da redovno trenirani freediveri mogu imati veoma povoljnu telesnu kompoziciju, ali da se zdravstvena bezbednost sporta mora procenjivati šire, uključujući kardiološku, neurološku, respiratornu i sigurnosnu dimenziju. Pregledi savremene literature upravo naglašavaju da freediving uključuje i adaptacije i rizike, naročito kod elitnih i repetitivnih zarona.
Ograničenja
Ova analiza ima nekoliko važnih ograničenja.
Prvo, uzorak je mali i prigodan. Uključeni su sportisti koji su dobrovoljno pristali na merenje, što znači da rezultati ne moraju predstavljati sve učesnike prvenstva niti celu freediving populaciju.
Drugo, BIA je terenska metoda i zavisi od uslova merenja. Nisu u potpunosti kontrolisani prethodni trening, unos tečnosti, unos hrane, vreme od poslednjeg obroka, temperatura kože, menstrualni ciklus kod žena, putovanje, umor i akutna hidracija.
Treće, Tanita metabolička starost predstavlja algoritamsku procenu, a ne direktan biomarker biološkog starenja.
Četvrto, nisu prikupljeni podaci o disciplini, trenažnom stažu, nivou performansi, rezultatima na prvenstvu, laboratorijskim parametrima ili zdravstvenoj istoriji, pa se ne može procenjivati povezanost telesne kompozicije sa uspehom ili zdravstvenim rizikom.
Zaključak
Freediveri mereni tokom Svetskog prvenstva u bazenskim disciplinama u Budimpešti pokazali su povoljan profil telesne kompozicije. Kod žena i muškaraca uočeni su normalan BMI, nizak procenat telesne masti, niska visceralna mast, relativno visoka mišićna masa i visok procenat telesne vode. Metabolička starost procenjena Tanita algoritmom bila je značajno niža od hronološke starosti u obe grupe.
Ovi rezultati ne dokazuju da freediving sam po sebi usporava starenje ili garantuje zdravlje, ali ukazuju da osobe koje se takmičarski bave freedivingom mogu imati vrlo povoljnu telesnu kompoziciju. To otvara prostor za dalja istraživanja o tome kako freediving trening, apneja, relaksacija, kontrola disanja, fizička aktivnost i životni stil utiču na telesnu kompoziciju, metaboličko zdravlje i dugoročne zdravstvene ishode.
Najvažnija poruka za freedivere jeste: dobra telesna kompozicija može biti deo zdravstvene slike, ali ne sme zameniti sigurnosne protokole, medicinski skrining i odgovoran pristup treningu apneje.
Predlog ključnih reči
freediving; bioimpedance; body composition; visceral fat; metabolic age; apnea; athlete health
Reference za rad
- Campa F, Toselli S, Mazzilli M, Gobbo LA, Coratella G. Assessment of Body Composition in Athletes: A Narrative Review of Available Methods with Special Reference to Quantitative and Qualitative Bioimpedance Analysis. Nutrients. 2021 May 12;13(5):1620. doi: 10.3390/nu13051620. PMID: 34065984; PMCID: PMC8150618.
- Top of Form
- Bottom of Form
- Kasper AM, Langan-Evans C, Hudson JF, Brownlee TE, Harper LD, Naughton RJ, Morton JP, Close GL. Come Back Skinfolds, All Is Forgiven: A Narrative Review of the Efficacy of Common Body Composition Methods in Applied Sports Practice. Nutrients. 2021 Mar 25;13(4):1075. doi: 10.3390/nu13041075. PMID: 33806245; PMCID: PMC8065383.
- Deurenberg P. Limitations of the bioelectrical impedance method for the assessment of body fat in severe obesity. Am J Clin Nutr. 1996 Sep;64(3 Suppl):449S-452S. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/64.3.449S. PMID: 8780361.
- Paganini M, Moon RE, Camporesi EM, Bosco G. Advances in breath-hold diving research: a state-of-the-art review. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2026 Mar;126(3):1223-1243. doi: 10.1007/s00421-025-06093-6. Epub 2025 Dec 19. PMID: 41417060; PMCID: PMC13013280.
- Tanita BC 545 n – https://tanita.co.uk/bc-545n
