Fat-Free Mass Index in Sport: Normative Profiles and Applications for Collegiate Athletes

Authors

Andrew Jagim, Mayo Clinic Health System
Patrick S. Harty, Lindenwood UniversityFollow
Margaret T. Jones, George Mason University
Jennifer Fields, George Mason University
Meghan Magee, George Mason University
Abbie E. Smith-Ryan
Joel Leudke, Mayo Clinic Health System
Chad M. Kerksick, Lindenwood UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research

Abstract

Recent concerns have been raised regarding the ethical considerations of conducting body composition assessments in sports. Specific apprehensions pertain to the inappropriate use of percent body fat and the limited application of the results to performance and recovery. Fat-free mass index (FFMI), a height-adjusted assessment of FFM, can serve as an alternative body composition metric to focus on in sports. Fat-free mass index provides valuable context regarding an optimal amount of FFM, accounting for skeletal frame and height while helping to qualify an athlete's FFM as low, moderate, or high. This review posits that shifting the focus of body composition measures to FFM can support more ideal targets across athletic seasons, careers, and the return to play after injury. In addition, a FFM focus may help change the perception of body composition assessment and how athletes perceive their current body because of the increased focus on the FFM compartment and the goal of maximizing tissue accrual, rather than focusing on fat loss. Fat-free mass index is calculated by dividing FFM (kg) by height (m²) and can serve to normalize FFM, relative to height, and enable comparisons across athletes, sport types, and sex. Previous research has identified differences in FFMI across sex and among sport categories. Still, there is a need for more published data to develop optimal ranges for FFMI across sex, sports, and positions. As more data become available, FFMI has the potential to provide normative guidelines for optimal FFM development, performance, and injury risk reduction. The purpose of the current review was to summarize FFMI values across collegiate sport categories and competitive status to provide normative profiles, according to sex and sport type.

DOI

10.1519/JSC.0000000000004864

Publication Date

7-2024

Recommended Citation

Jagim, Andrew; Harty, Patrick S.; Jones, Margaret T.; Fields, Jennifer; Magee, Meghan; Smith-Ryan, Abbie E.; Leudke, Joel; and Kerksick, Chad M., "Fat-Free Mass Index in Sport: Normative Profiles and Applications for Collegiate Athletes" (2024). Faculty Scholarship. 664.
https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/faculty-research-papers/664