Body Composition and Temperature Analysis Depending on Level of Physical Activity in People Training CrossFit

Aims
The study aimed to analyze body composition and body surface temperature in people training CrossFit. Relationships between the analyzed parameters and the level of CrossFit advancement and sex of the subjects were also studied.

Material and methods
The study was carried out at CrossFit Eternia club in Wroclaw, Poland, on a group of 40 volunteers who were divided according to their level of advancement in the CrossFit program. Body composition was tested using the bioelectrical impedance assessment (BIA) method and body surface temperature was examined with the FLIR T335 thermal imaging camera. In groups with a high level of physical activity, a lower level of body fat (FAT) content was shown (%).

Results
Surface temperature most often and strongly correlated with total body water TBW [%] in the group of advanced men. Gender and level of advancement differentiated individual body composition parameters and body surface temperatures in people training CrossFit. In the group of people with an advanced level, a greater content of lean body mass was shown, and at the same time, a lower content of adipose tissue. Also, higher body temperatures were found in men than in women, and higher temperatures were found in people with higher levels of advancement than in groups with lower levels.

Conclusions
Gender has a significant influence on the average temperature of the measured body areas. Advanced groups showed higher mean body temperatures than intermediate groups.