scholarly journals Sex Differences in Body Composition and Fitness Scores in Military Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Cadets

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon M Roberts ◽  
Kelsey A Rushing ◽  
Eric P Plaisance

ABSTRACT Introduction The cadets in the U.S. Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) consist of students from varied backgrounds. As part of collegiate ROTC programs, cadets must pass fitness tests and adhere to body composition standards in addition to completing their education. The previous fitness test of record was the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), but it was recently changed to the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) to better test soldiers for combat capabilities. As part of the standardized scoring, the ACFT is no longer separated by sex or age as in the APFT, but rather by job duty. The purpose of this study was to characterize the modern ROTC cadet based on body composition measures and APFT and ACFT scores and then determine how those factors are related. Materials and Methods We calculated body mass index (BMI), fat mass, fat-free mass (FFM), fat-free mass index (FFMI), and fat mass index (FMI) (n = 68, 42 males, 26 females). We used Pearson correlations to compare the scores to body composition assessments and Student’s t-tests to determine if there were differences between sexes. We hypothesized that those with higher FFM and FFMI will have a higher passing rate on the ACFT and that males would perform better on the ACFT because of having more FFM. Results We found that cadets, regardless of sex, were borderline overweight using BMI standards and that BMI did not correlate with any fitness tests. When comparing sexes, both males and females had high passing rates on the APFT, but females struggled to pass the ACFT mostly because of the leg tuck. We also found that ACFT scores were strongly correlated with FFM and FFMI, yet no body composition measures were correlated with APFT scores. Conclusions It is clear from our data that structured training programs and nutrition guidance are needed with an emphasis on changing body composition to increase lean mass and strength to increase the performance of ROTC cadets on the ACFT.

Medicina ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (7) ◽  
pp. 328
Author(s):  
María Mendoza-Muñoz ◽  
José Carmelo Adsuar ◽  
Jorge Pérez-Gómez ◽  
Laura Muñoz-Bermejo ◽  
Miguel Ángel Garcia-Gordillo ◽  
...  

Background and objectives: Childhood obesity is one of the main public health issues facing advanced societies. The Spanish population presents 28.6% overweight or obese adolescents, and Extremadura, 22.3%. Physical fitness is considered one of the most important health markers and a common predictor of morbidity and mortality caused by cardiovascular diseases. Thus, fitness tests are needed for health monitoring, especially in overweight and obese adolescents. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the relationship between body composition and physical fitness in adolescents and to analyse if there are differences in physical condition and body composition between the sexes, as well as to compare the different body mass index (BMI) categories to each other. This project also tried to find regression equations to predict the physical fitness test results. Materials and Methods: A total of 225 adolescents were recruited. Weight status was classified according to WHO 2007 standards. Body composition variables (i.e., BMI, fat mass (FM), FM percentage (FM%), and fat-free mass (FFM)) and physical fitness (standing long jump (SLJ), speed–agility (SA), cardiorespiratory fitness (CF), and handgrip strength (HS)) were assessed. Results: Significant differences were found between the sexes in body composition (FM%, FM, and FFM) and physical fitness (SLJ, SA, CF, and HS) (p < 0.001) in favour of males. Significant differences were also found in speed (p = 0.002), CF (p < 0.001), and SLJ (p = 0.004) in favour of normal-weight adolescents compared to overweight and obese adolescents. Contrarily, the outcomes revealed a significantly greater HS (p = 0.014) in favour of overweight and obese participants compared to normal-weight adolescents. Moreover, the results showed that CF and SLJ correlated inversely with BMI, FM%, and total FM. There was also a direct relationship between SA and FM percentage, as well as between HS and FFM. Finally, four fitness test predictive models are proposed based on body composition, age, sex, and BMI. Conclusions: Overweight and obese adolescents have lower levels of physical fitness than their normal-weight peers, regardless of their sex. Normal-ranged body composition values are related to a greater physical fitness in adolescents. Furthermore, this study presents several equations that can help to predict the performance of different fitness tests in adolescents.


2003 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 521-528 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. K. Wells

Body composition in children is of increasing interest within the contexts of childhood obesity, clinical management of patients and nutritional programming as a pathway to adult disease. Energy imbalance appears to be common in many disease states; however, body composition is not routinely measured in patients. Traditionally, clinical interest has focused on growth or nutritional status, whereas more recent studies have quantified fat mass and lean mass. The human body changes in proportions and chemical composition during childhood and adolescence. Most of the weight gain comprises lean mass rather than fat. In general, interest has focused on percentage fat, and less attention has been paid to the way in which lean mass varies within and between individuals. In the general population secular trends in BMI have been widely reported, indicating increasing levels of childhood obesity, which have been linked to reduced physical activity. However, lower activity levels may potentially lead not only to increased fatness, but also to reduced lean mass. This issue merits further investigation. Diseases have multiple effects on body composition and may influence fat-free mass and/or fat mass. In some diseases both components change in the same direction, whereas in other diseases, the changes are contradictory and may be concealed by relatively normal weight. Improved techniques are required for clinical evaluations. Both higher fatness and reduced lean mass may represent pathways to an increased risk of adult disease.


2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (10) ◽  
pp. 2073-2092 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Castillo-Laura ◽  
Iná S. Santos ◽  
Lenice C. M. Quadros ◽  
Alicia Matijasevich

Abstract This study reviewed the evidence that assessed the association between maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and/or gestational weight gain and offspring body composition in childhood. A systematic review was conducted. Cohort studies, case-control studies and randomized controlled trials measuring offspring body composition by indirect methods were included. Meta-analyses of the effect of pre-pregnancy BMI on offspring fat-free mass, body fat percent, and fat mass were conducted through random-effects models. 20 studies were included, most of which reported a positive association of pre-pregnancy BMI with offspring body fat. Standardized mean differences in body fat percent, fat mass and fat-free mass between infants of women with normal pre-pregnancy BMI and those of overweight/obese women were 0.31 percent points (95%CI: 0.19; 0.42), 0.38kg (95%CI: 0.26; 0.50), and 0.18kg (95%CI: -0.07; 0.42), respectively. Evidence so far suggests that pre-pregnancy maternal overweight is associated with higher offspring adiposity.


Sports ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Fields ◽  
Justin Merrigan ◽  
Jason White ◽  
Margaret Jones

The purpose of this study was to assess the body composition of male and female basketball athletes (n = 323) across season, year, and sport-position using air displacement plethysmography. An independent sample t-test assessed sport-position differences. An analysis of variance was used to assess within-subjects across season (pre-season, in-season, and off-season), and academic year (freshman, sophomore, and junior). For both men and women basketball (MBB, WBB) athletes, guards had the lowest body fat, fat mass, fat free mass, and body mass. No seasonal differences were observed in MBB, but following in-season play for WBB, a reduction of (p = 0.03) in fat free mass (FFM) was observed. Across years, MBB showed an increase in FFM from freshman to sophomore year, yet remained unchanged through junior year. For WBB across years, no differences occurred for body mass (BM), body fat (BF%), and fat mass (FM), yet FFM increased from sophomore to junior year (p = 0.009). Sport-position differences exist in MBB and WBB: Guards were found to be smaller and leaner than forwards. Due to the importance of body composition (BC) on athletic performance, along with seasonal and longitudinal shifts in BC, strength and conditioning practitioners should periodically assess athletes BC to ensure preservation of FFM. Training and nutrition programming can then be adjusted in response to changes in BC.


2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 177-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Lee Owen ◽  
Carlos Lago-Peñas ◽  
Gordon Dunlop ◽  
Rouissi Mehdi ◽  
Moktar Chtara ◽  
...  

AbstractThe primary aim of the investigation was to study the seasonal changes in body composition in elite European soccer players and identify key playing positional differences. Twenty-two players (age = 24 ± 3.7 years, body height = 180.45 ± 5.12 cm, body mass = 76.66 ± 5.34 kg) were tested. Players’ mass (kg), lean body mass (LBM), fat free mass (FFM), fat mass (FM), muscle girths (MG) and sum of 8 skinfolds (mm) were measured across 5 time points (T0 = Start of pre-season training; T1 = End of pre-season training; T2 = Mid-season; T3 = End of mid-season break; T4 = End of season). Players were divided into their tactical positional roles for analysis. The specific positions they were divided into included defenders (n = 8), midfielders (n = 8) and forwards (n = 6). Assessment of training and matchplay exposure were also recorded. Sites-4, Sites-7, Sites-8 and Fat Mass decreased dramatically from T0 to T1 and T2 in all playing positions (p < 0.01), while no remarkable differences were found between T2, T3 and T4. Except for defenders, calf girth and lean mass were higher in T2, T3 and T4 compared to T0 and T1 (p < 0.01). Midfielders were found to be leaner than forwards and defenders in all data collection time point sessions. Defenders showed higher values in calf girth and lean body mass than midfielders and forwards. It can be concluded from this investigation that there are large variances n positional body composition profiles amongst professional European soccer players. Furthermore, significant changes are prevalent and occur across the season from LBM, FFM, MG and skinfold assessment amongst European elite level soccer players.


Nutrients ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy McAdam ◽  
Kaitlin McGinnis ◽  
Darren Beck ◽  
Cody Haun ◽  
Matthew Romero ◽  
...  

We investigated the effects of whey protein (WP) supplementation on body composition and physical performance in soldiers participating in Army Initial Entry Training (IET). Sixty-nine, male United States Army soldiers volunteered for supplementation with either twice daily whey protein (WP, 77 g/day protein, ~580 kcal/day; n = 34, age = 19 ± 1 year, height = 173 ± 6 cm, weight = 73.4 ± 12.7 kg) or energy-matched carbohydrate (CHO) drinks (CHO, 127 g/day carbohydrate, ~580 kcal/day; n = 35, age = 19 ± 1 year, height = 173 ± 5 cm, weight = 72.3 ± 10.9 kg) for eight weeks during IET. Physical performance was evaluated using the Army Physical Fitness Test during weeks two and eight. Body composition was assessed using 7-site skinfold assessment during weeks one and nine. Post-testing push-up performance averaged 7 repetitions higher in the WP compared to the CHO group (F = 10.1, p < 0.001) when controlling for baseline. There was a significant decrease in fat mass at post-training (F = 4.63, p = 0.04), but no significant change in run performance (F = 3.50, p = 0.065) or fat-free mass (F = 0.70, p = 0.41). Effect sizes for fat-free mass gains were large for both the WP (Cohen’s d = 0.44) and CHO (Cohen’s d = 0.42) groups. WP had a large effect on fat mass (FM) loss (Cohen’s d = −0.67), while CHO had a medium effect (Cohen’s d = −0.40). Twice daily supplementation with WP improved push-up performance and potentiated reductions in fat mass during IET training in comparison to CHO supplementation.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. e054851
Author(s):  
Birgit Maria Vahlberg ◽  
Erik Lundström ◽  
Staffan Eriksson ◽  
Ulf Holmback ◽  
Tommy Cederholm

ObjectivesTo evaluate effects of mobile phone text-messaging exercise instructions on body composition, cardiometabolic risk markers and self-reported health at 3 months after stroke.DesignRandomised controlled intervention study with per-protocol analyses.SettingUniversity Hospital in Sweden.ParticipantsSeventy-nine patients (mean (SD) age 64 (10) years, 37% female) ≥18 years with good motor function (modified Rankin Scale ≤2) and capable to perform 6 min walking test at hospital discharge were randomised to either intervention (n=40) or control group (n=39). Key exclusion criteria: subarachnoid bleeding, uncontrolled hypertension, severe psychiatric problems or cognitive limitations.InterventionsThe intervention group received beyond standard care, daily mobile phone instructional text messages to perform regular outdoor walking and functional leg exercises. The control group received standard care.Main outcome measuresFat mass and fat-free mass were estimated by bioelectric impedance analysis. Cardiometabolic risk factors like blood lipids, glycated haemoglobin and blood glucose were analysed at baseline and after 3 months.ResultsBoth groups changed favourably in fat-free mass (1.83 kg, 95% CI 0.77 to 2.89; p=0.01, effect size (ES)=0.63 vs 1.22 kg, 95% CI 0.39 to 2.0; p=0.05, ES=0.54) and fat mass (−1.30 kg, 95% CI −2.45 to −0.14; p=0.029, ES=0.41 vs −0.76 kg, 95% CI −1.74 to 0.22; p=0.123, ES=0.28). Also, many cholesterol related biomarkers improved; for example, total cholesterol −0.65 mmol/L, 95% CI −1.10 to −0.2; p=0.06, ES: 0.5 vs −1.1 mmol/L, 95% CI −1.47 to −0.56; p>0.001, ES=0.8. However, there were no between-group differences. At 3 months, 94% and 86%, respectively, reported very good/fairly good health in the text messaging and control groups.ConclusionsNo clear effect of 3 months daily mobile phone delivered training instructions was detected on body composition, cardiovascular biochemical risk factors or self-perceived health. Further research is needed to evaluate secondary prevention efforts in larger populations after recent stroke.Trial registration numberNCT02902367.


2021 ◽  
pp. 291-299

Background. Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health. Obesity is associated with many chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and recently the role of overweight and obesity in lung disease has received new interest. Chronic obstructive lung disease is the third-leading cause of death globally, and both obesity and diet appear to play roles in its pathophysiology. Cross-sectional studies have demonstrated an inverse association between obesity and the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Objective. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between smoking, lipid profile and obesity (body composition changes) in a selected groups of population (30 non-smokers, 30 smokers and 60 COPD patients). Material and Methods. We evaluated fat mass, fat free mass, body mass index and lipid profile in a group of 120 randomly selected probands (60 COPD patients; 30 smokers without COPD; 30 non-smokers without COPD) to identify possible negative relationships of smoking to body composition. To the measurement of fat mass (FM) and fat free mass (FFM) was used a device Bodystat Quadscan 4000 (Bodystat Ltd, British Isles). The device works by using four-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis. Laboratory parameters as total cholesterol (T-C), high-density cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density cholesterol (LDL-C) and triacylglycerols (TG) were investigated by automated clinical chemistry analyzer LISA 200th. The measured values were statistically processed and evaluated in a statistical program STATISTICA Cz. Version 7.1. (Kruskall-Wallis test). Results. A comparison of the mean fat mass we found statistically highly significant differences between the group of COPD patients and non-smokers (P <0.001) and insignificant differences (P ≥ 0.05) between the other groups of our experiment. A comparison of the mean fat mass values of all three groups of the experiment shows a steady increase in fat from non-smokers (17.66 ± 10.04 kg) to COPD patients with the highest mean value (25.08 ± 10.14 kg). In the group of COPD patients we recorded the lowest average value of FFM (51.76 ± 13.84 kg), in group of smokers the middle (56.06 ± 10.76 kg) and in non-smokers the highest average value of FFM (59.91 ± 9.90 kg) at relatively the same body weight in the groups. Based on calculated body mass index (BMI), we found in group of COPD patients overweight in 15 cases (25%), obesity in 7 patients (11.67%), severe obesity in 14 patients (23.3%) and morbid obesity in 2 patients (3.33%); in the group of smokers overweight in 16 cases (53.33%), obesity in 5 cases (16.6%) and severe obesity in 1 case (3.33%); in non-smokers we recording overweight in 14 cases (46.67%), obesity in 5 cases (16.67%) and severe obesity in 2 cases (6.67%). In the lipid profile of the monitored groups of probands, we observed statistically significant differences only for LDL cholesterol (LDL-C). There was a statistically significant difference (P <0.001) between the group with COPD and smokers, as well as between the group of smokers and non-smokers (P < 0.05). Conclusions. In the vast majority of patients with COPD, the lung damage that leads to COPD is caused by long-term cigarette smoking. The presence and absence of risk factors such as smoking, inappropriate lipid profile and obesity (amount of fat mass) in selected population groups were observed. Additional studies to explore both the quantitative and qualitative changes in body composition with disease process of COPD are required.


2019 ◽  
Vol 109 (5) ◽  
pp. 1353-1360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Norris ◽  
Sara E Ramel ◽  
Patrick Catalano ◽  
Carol ni Caoimh ◽  
Paola Roggero ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Background Air-displacement plethysmography (ADP) is a good candidate for monitoring body composition in newborns and young infants, but reference centile curves are lacking that allow for assessment at birth and across the first 6 mo of life. Objective Using pooled data from 4 studies, we aimed to produce new charts for assessment according to gestational age at birth (30 + 1 to 41 + 6 wk) and postnatal age at measurement (1–27 wk). Methods The sample comprised 222 preterm infants born in the United States who were measured at birth; 1029 term infants born in Ireland who were measured at birth; and 149 term infants born in the United States and 57 term infants born in Italy who were measured at birth, 1 and 2 wk, and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 mo of age. Infants whose birth weights were <3rd or >97th centile of the INTERGROWTH-21st standard were excluded, thereby ensuring that the charts depict body composition of infants whose birth weights did not indicate suboptimal fetal growth. Sex-specific centiles for fat mass (kg), fat-free mass (kg), and percentage body fat were estimated using the lambda-mu-sigma (LMS) method. Results For each sex and measure (e.g., fat mass), the new charts comprised 2 panels. The first showed centiles according to gestational age, allowing term infants to be assessed at birth and preterm infants to be monitored until they reached term. The second showed centiles according to postnatal age, allowing all infants to be monitored to age 27 wk. The LMS values underlying the charts were presented, enabling researchers and clinicians to convert measurements to centiles and z scores. Conclusions The new charts provide a single tool for the assessment of body composition, according to ADP, in infants across the first 6 mo of life and will help enhance early-life nutritional management.


2020 ◽  
Vol 123 (11) ◽  
pp. 1269-1276
Author(s):  
Steven Law ◽  
Andrew Davenport

AbstractThe majority of peritoneal dialysates use glucose to generate an osmotic gradient for the convective removal of water and Na. Although glucose can potentially be absorbed, previous studies have failed to establish whether this leads to increased fat weight gain. We measured body composition using bioimpedance in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, electively starting PD, attending for their first assessment of peritoneal membrane function after 2–3 months, and then after 12 months. We studied 143 patients: eighty-nine (62·2 %) males, fifty-three (37·1 %) diabetics, mean age 61·3 (SD 14·9) years, with ninety (62·1 %) patients treated by automated PD cyclers with a daytime icodextrin exchange and thirty-seven (25·9 %) by continuous ambulatory PD. Median fat mass increased by 1·8 (–0·5 to 4·1) kg, whereas fat-free mass fell –1·3 (–2·9 to 1·0) kg, and the increase in fat mass was negatively associated with the fall in soft lean mass (r –0·41, P < 0·001). Increased fat mass was associated with measured peritoneal glucose absorption (r 0·69, P < 0·001), and glucose absorption was associated with the amount of 22·7 g/l glucose dialysate (OR 2·0, 95 % CI 1·5, 2·5, P < 0·001), peritoneal urea clearance (OR 9·5, 95 % CI 2·4, 37·1, P = 0·001) and male sex (OR 4·8, 95 % CI 1·5, 14·9, P = 0·008). We report an observational study in prevalent PD patients following body composition from their first assessment of PD membrane function for approximately 12 months, and despite the majority of patients prescribed icodextrin, we have demonstrated not only an association between intra-peritoneal glucose absorption and fat weight gain but also loss of fat-free mass.


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