# Defining Elite Zones: A Scoping Review of Body Physique and Body Fat in Elite Athletes

## TL;DR

This study reviews body physique and fat percentages in elite athletes using the Hattori chart to define an 'elite zone' for performance optimization.

## Contribution

The study introduces the use of the Hattori chart to visualize and define body composition profiles specific to elite athletes.

## Key findings

- Elite male athletes showed intermediate solid body physique and 13.6% ± 3.6% body fat using indirect methods.
- Elite female athletes showed lean intermediate body physique and 22.3% ± 2.8% body fat using indirect methods.
- The Hattori chart helps monitor body composition changes and guide nutrition for performance and health.

## Abstract

Background: Body physique refers to body size, structure, and composition. PS is used to describe the profile of athletes in different sports. Aims: To determine body physique and body fat percentage in elite athletes using the Hattori chart and to identify the elite zone. Methods: Scoping review. The search was performed in PubMed, Google Scholar, Ovid Books, CAB eBooks, Clarivate InCites, MyiLibrary, Web of Science, Taylor & Francis Online, Core Collection, and Scopus. The search strategy was “body physique” OR “anthropometric” OR “body composition” AND “elite athlete” OR “athlete” OR “elite”. Results: Using indirect methods, elite athletes showed intermediate solid body physique (male) and lean intermediate body physique (female), and 13.6% ± 3.6% (male) and 22.3% ± 2.8 (female) body fat. Using doubly indirect methods, elite athletes showed lean intermediate body physique (male), and intermediate body physique (female), and a percentage of body fat of 13.7% ± 5.2% (male) and of 21.7% ± 4.3% (female) of body fat. Conclusions: Hattori’s chart facilitates the visualization of changes in body mass index, fat-free mass index, fat mass index, and percentage of body fat, helping personalize training, monitor composition changes, and guide nutrition programs to optimize performance and health.