AUTHOR(S): Biswajit Sharma and Sangeeta Gupta

ABSTRACT:
Introduction: The physiological demands of endurance and strength training elicit distinct metabolic and morphological adaptations. This study provides a comparative analysis of the lipid profiles and Body Mass Index (BMI) of elite male endurance athletes (long-distance runners) and strength athletes (shot putters and discus throwers). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 20 Univesity-level male athletes, comprising 10 endurance and 10 strength athletes. Data on age, Very-Low-Density Lipoprotein (VLDL), Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL), High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL), Triglycerides (TG), Total Cholesterol, and BMI were collected. A comprehensive statistical analysis was performed, including descriptive statistics, normality testing (Shapiro-Wilk test), comparative analysis between the two groups (Independent Samples t-test), and correlation analysis (Pearson's or Spearman's correlation) to examine the relationships between BMI and lipid parameters within each group. Results: The endurance athletes exhibited a significantly lower BMI (20.0±2.2 kg/m ²) compared to the strength athletes (26.3±4.1 kg/m ²; p < 0.001). While not all lipid parameters showed statistically significant differences, there was a trend towards a more favorable lipid profile in the endurance group, with lower average VLDL and Triglycerides. In the strength athlete group, BMI demonstrated a significant positive correlation with VLDL (r = 0.63, p = 0.04) and Triglycerides (r = 0.64, p = 0.04). Conclusion: The findings highlight significant differences in BMI between endurance and strength athletes, reflecting the specific physical demands of their disciplines. The positive correlation between BMI and certain lipid parameters in strength athletes suggests that body composition may have important implications for cardiovascular health, even in an athletic population. This underscores the need for sport-specific health monitoring and tailored nutritional strategies to optimize both performance and long-term well-being.

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