Body composition
One measure of the broader term, physique. Body composition is the makeup of the total body including organs, water, muscle, bone and fat. Typically, body composition can be categorised into two components: fat mass, and lean mass (muscle, bone, organs, tendons, water and other tissue).
Body Image
A combination of the thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs that we have about our bodies. Body image includes our shape, size, weight, gender identity and the way our body functions. It may be positive or negative, and one person may feel at different times positive or negative or a combination of both. Body image is influenced by internal (e.g. personality) and external (e.g. social environment) factors.
Negative Body Image (also termed Body Dissatisfaction/Body Distress)
Concerns, distress or other negative experiences about our body weight, shape, size or aspects of our appearance. Occurs on a spectrum from mild to severe, defined by both subjective and objective impacts on physical and mental health.
Positive Body Image (also termed Body Satisfaction)
Feeling satisfied, content and/or more positively towards our body weight, shape, size or appearance. Positive body image is linked to health-supporting behaviours and improved physical and mental health, across body sizes.
Body Empowerment
Thoughts, feelings and actions which are intentional and supportive of both our physical and psychological wellbeing at any one point in time. Feeling more empowered means that we are more “in charge of” how we feel about, and in our bodies, and are more willing to take care of it in ways that feel right for us rather than what we are told it “should” look like.
Appearance Ideals
What our culture, society, or group shows or tells us is the ideal or ‘best’ way to look. Ideals can vary across many groups, and may offer conflicting ideas, which can be very confusing and worrying for people.
Maturation
Inferred from an assessment of Peak-Height Velocity – the re-acceleration of height accumulation at approximately 10-11 years for girls and 12-13 years for boys. The re-accelerated time point of growth is also more commonly known as the time of puberty or maturation, where individual anthropometric and physical developments progressively transition into the adult mature state.
In Swimming, maturation may be measured using high consent processes at competitions as part of Swimming Australia’s H2gr0w project to help highlight maturation-based performance differences. It may also be collected at key Talent Identification camps or may be measured by an individual’s performance support team or private health practitioner/s.
Measurement
The tracking of components of physique, including but not exclusively body composition. (see Physique definition).
Physique
“The form, size and development of a person’s body”.8 Physique measures in swimming include but are not limited to:
- Morphology: height, surface area, limb length, hand size, hip girth, forearm girth, feet size, surface area
- Composition: total body mass, lean mass (skeletal muscle mass, bone mass, organ mass), body fat, density
- Hydrodynamics: frontal surface area, body volume, tissue density, centre of buoyancy, drag
- Physiology: muscle fibre type composition, lung volume, capacity of the muscle mass, muscle recruitment, tendon stiffness, tendon thickness, metabolic capacity
- Physicality: flexibility, strength, power, co-ordination, mobility
Performing Physique
A ‘Performing Physique’ encompasses a holistic approach to physique which takes into account the many elements which contribute to the physical form (body) and mental state (mind/brain) which optimises the swimmer’s performance. These may include:
- The five physique factors (see ‘Physique’ definition)
- Genetics
- Family history
- Temperament
- Psychology and mental health
- Body image, self-worth (including measurement anxiety)
- Energy availability
- Food, eating and nutrition patterns/behaviours
Surface Anthropometry
Anthropometry is defined as ‘measurement of the human body’.9 Surface anthropometry may therefore be defined as the science of acquiring and utilising surface dimensional measurements which describe the human phenotype (set of observable characteristics of an individual resulting from the interaction of one’s genetic constitution, with their environment). Measurements of mass, height, bone breadths, segment lengths/spans, girths and skinfolds are used, either as raw data or derived ratios or predicted values. This data contributes to describing human size, proportions, shape, composition and symmetry.
Swimming Community
A unified group of people with the common interest of swimming. This includes but is not limited to: coaches, health and performance support professionals (or PST), swimmers, parents/supporters, supporters, club staff, school or academic institution representatives, sponsors.
