Body composition and body build of champion athletes in relation to fitness and performance

Abstract

In adult life and particularly at the end of the second and during the third decade, the most marked changes in body composition can be achieved (see Fig. 35), due to the highest possible intensity of work load. Under contemporary oecological conditions in industrial, advanced countries the influence of physical load at work does not play such an important role. Wirths (1975) e.g. showed that nearly 70% of workers, including housewives, in Western Germany can be classified as light workers (75 kcal/hour, or 315 kJ/hour), about 20% as moderate workers (75–150kcal/hour, or 630 kJ/hour), and only about 10% as heavy or very heavy workers (150–200 or more/kcal/hour, or 840 kJ/hour). People living under different oecological, nutritional and working conditions have a different physical fitness, morbidity and mortality (Suzuki 1975).