DIFFERENCES IN BODY COMPOSITION AMONG TABLE TENNIS PLAYERS OF DIFFERENT COMPETITIVE LEVELS

Body composition is an important factor in determining sports performance. Therefore, body composition of fifty-seven male table tennis players (21.4±6.3 years) of different competitive levels (High=19; Medium=19; Low=19) was evaluated using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Specifically, the percent values of body fat (PBF), fat free mass (PFFM), and skeletal muscle mass (PSM) were investigated. Additionally, body fat index (BFI), fat free mass index (FFMI), and skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) were calculated by normalizing absolute values to height square. Furthermore, regional body fat distribution was analyzed by examining the PBF of arms and legs. No differences in PBF, PFFM, and PSM were found among High (PBF=12.95±3.59%; PFFM=87.04±3.57%; PSMM=49.37±2.31%), Medium (PBF=14.76±5.97%; PFFM=85.24±5.99%; PSMM=48.13±3.64%), and Low (PBF=15.13±4.84%; PFFM=84.85±4.83%; PSMM=47.64±3.35%) level players, although a positive trend linked with sport performance was observed. In fact, significant differences emerged in FFMI (p=0.009, d=1.17) and SMI (p=0.009, d=1.18) between High (FFMI=19.43±1.44 kg/m²; SMI=11.03±0.91 kg/m²) and Low (FFMI=17.93±1.09 kg/m²; SMI=10.06±0.72 kg/m²) levels players. When comparing limb compositions, a significant difference in PBF (p<0.001, d=0.42) emerged only between playing (8.25±5.31%) and non-playing arm (10.67±5.86%) in the total sample. These findings indicate differences in body composition among table tennis players of different competitive levels, with High level players exhibiting a leaner body composition and greater skeletal muscle mass. Moreover, segmental analysis highlights asymmetries in arms composition, while no differences were observed between legs.