Avaliação da força de preensão palmar, do nível de adiposidade e do nível de muscularidade de pessoas transgêneros

Abstract

The transsexualizing process results in changes in the body composition of individuals. Anthropometry is the least invasive way to estimate body composition. Indicators of strength (hand grip strength), muscularity (upper arm circumference and the upper arm muscle area), and adiposity (triceps skin fold and upper arm fat area) can be used. Thus, the present study sought to assess the handgrip strength, the level of adiposity and muscularity in transgender people, from the city of Natal/Rio Grande do Norte, and to compare them with the values obtained for cisgender people. It was possible to observe lower muscle strength in transgender men compared to cisgender men. The muscle strength of transgender women was compatible with that of cisgender women. It is assumed that this difference in handgrip strength is related to lower indicators of muscularity in transgender men when compared to cisgender women. Difficulty in accessing hormonal therapy, especially in the Female to Male (FtM) group, may be a factor that explains the difference between strength and muscularity indicators between transgender and cisgender men. It was concluded that transgender men showed greater differences in body composition than transgender women, with regard to anthropometric values observed in studies with the Brazilian cisgender population.