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Body composition, exercise-related performance parameters and associated health factors of transgender women, cisgender women and cisgender men volleyball players
  1. Leonardo Azevedo Alvares1,
  2. Marcus VL dos Santos Quaresma2,
  3. Fernanda Patti Nakamoto1,
  4. Lívia Marcela Santos1,
  5. Lucas Soglio Navarro1,
  6. Giovanna Soglio Navarro1,
  7. Bruno Marcos Mazoca Orozco1,
  8. Beatriz Meconi Cardoso Sá1,
  9. Gabriel Barasnevicius Achkar1,
  10. Camila Guazzelli Marques3,
  11. Renata Cleia Claudino Barbosa4,
  12. Raphael Einsfeld Simões Ferreira1
  1. 1Medical School, Centro Universitário São Camilo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
  2. 2Department of Nutrition, Centro Universitário São Camilo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
  3. 3Department of Psychobiology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
  4. 4Department of Physiotherapy, Centro Universitário São Camilo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
  1. Correspondence to Professor Leonardo Azevedo Alvares; leo_a_alvares{at}yahoo.com.br

Abstract

Objective The inclusion of transgender athletes in competitive sports has promoted significant dialogue and controversy among exercise-related professionals. The objective of this study was to investigate body composition, exercise-related performance parameters and associated health-related factors of transgender women (TW), cisgender women (CW) and cisgender men (CM) amateur volleyball players.

Methods This was a cross-sectional study comprising TW, CW and CM amateur volleyball players eligible with the following characteristics: ‘gender incongruent’ (for TW only); age between 18 and 35 years; body mass index (BMI) between 18.0 and 29.9 kg/m2; ‘very active’ according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and engaged in regular volleyball training for at least 1 year. All participants were assessed for body composition, blood biomarkers, handgrip strength, countermovement jump height (CMJ), squat jump height (SQJ) and maximum oxygen consumption (V̇O2max).

Results 69 amateur volleyball players were initially evaluated, but only 23 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study (7 TW, 8 CW and 8 CM). Age (p=0.07) and BMI (p=0.26) were similar between groups. Estradiol (p=0.47), total testosterone (p=1.00) and haemoglobin (p=1.00) levels did not differ between TW and CW. However, analysis not adjusted by confounding variables showed that CM presented higher testosterone levels (p<0.001), haemoglobin levels (p=0.03), lean body mass (p=0.03), handgrip strength (p<0.001), CMJ (p<0.001), SQJ (p=0.012) and V̇O2max (mL/min) (p=0.001) compared with TW. When adjusted by confounding variables, all p values were <0.05, except for SQJ (p=0.062).

Conclusion TW athletes displayed similar exercise performance and biomarkers compared with CW but lower results compared with CM.

  • Physical fitness
  • Body composition

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2024-108601

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    Footnotes

    • X @bmxconi

    • Contributors Study conception and design: LAA, RESF. Data acquisition and analysis: LAA, FPN, LMS, RESF, MVLSQ, CGM, RCCB, FML, BMMO, LSN, GSN, BMCS, GBA. Manuscript drafting: LAA, MVLSQ, FPN, LSN, GSN. Critical revision: LAA, MVLSQ, FPN, RESF. Guarantor: LAA.

    • Funding This research was supported by grants from Centro Universitário São Camilo, Santander Bank, and Fleury Laboratory.

    • Patient and public involvement Transgender women volleyball teams organizers approached our research center, proposing an evaluation of the athletic capacities within their trans population. They also offered to facilitate the dissemination of the research information to potential volunteers.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Supplemental material This content has been supplied by the author(s). It has not been vetted by BMJ Publishing Group Limited (BMJ) and may not have been peer-reviewed. Any opinions or recommendations discussed are solely those of the author(s) and are not endorsed by BMJ. BMJ disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on the content. Where the content includes any translated material, BMJ does not warrant the accuracy and reliability of the translations (including but not limited to local regulations, clinical guidelines, terminology, drug names and drug dosages), and is not responsible for any error and/or omissions arising from translation and adaptation or otherwise.