Which sport among the following does not normally have leaner than average percent body fat values?

Which sport among the following does not normally have leaner than average percent body fat values?

• A. Baseball
• B. Hockey
• C. Olympic-style weightlifting
• D. Women's basketball

Answer: (B)

The idea is that body fat levels in athletes reflect the specific demands of each sport. In sports like Olympic-style weightlifting, athletes aim for the highest strength-to-weight ratio, so they keep body fat very low to stay as light as possible while retaining power. In women’s basketball, players benefit from being lean to jump, sprint, and maneuver, so many athletes maintain relatively low body fat as well. Baseball players train for agility and endurance in bursts, and although there’s variation, many are leaner than the general population or non-athletes. Hockey sits a bit apart because, despite being highly conditioned and muscular, the sport often accommodates or even benefits from greater body mass and padding for protection and stability on the ice. This can result in a higher average body fat percentage compared with the ultra-lean targets seen in weightlifting or among some basketball players. So, hockey is the sport among these that does not normally have leaner-than-average body fat values.

The idea is that body fat levels in athletes reflect the specific demands of each sport. In sports like Olympic-style weightlifting, athletes aim for the highest strength-to-weight ratio, so they keep body fat very low to stay as light as possible while retaining power. In women’s basketball, players benefit from being lean to jump, sprint, and maneuver, so many athletes maintain relatively low body fat as well. Baseball players train for agility and endurance in bursts, and although there’s variation, many are leaner than the general population or non-athletes.

Hockey sits a bit apart because, despite being highly conditioned and muscular, the sport often accommodates or even benefits from greater body mass and padding for protection and stability on the ice. This can result in a higher average body fat percentage compared with the ultra-lean targets seen in weightlifting or among some basketball players. So, hockey is the sport among these that does not normally have leaner-than-average body fat values.