Landmark study suggests trans women may not have advantage in sports
A new study on trans athletes is out (Stock Image/Getty Images)
A new review of studies around trans athletes has suggested that trans women may not have any fitness advantage in sports.
The findings of the review note that transgender women exhibit strength and fitness levels similar to cisgender women after undergoing months of hormone replacement therapy.
The review involved scientists in Brazil collating and analysing findings from around 50 studies involving a total of 6,485 people, including 2,943 trans women, 2,309 trans men, 568 cis women and 665 cis men, all between the ages of 14 and 41.
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The findings also suggested that, despite having larger muscle mass than cis women after one to three years of HRT, trans women had a lot more fat than cis men.
There were also no observable differences in upper or lower body strength between trans and cis women, nor in their maximal oxygen consumption, which is a key fitness indicator.
The scientists that carried out the study wrote: “Continued research into physiological as well as psychosocial trajectories among transgender athletes with diverse demographics and clinical characteristics remains essential for developing equitable frameworks that balance justice, inclusion and scientific rigour.”
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