title: Less body fat improves physical and physiological performance in army soldiers.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to compare physical and physiological fitness test performance between Soldiers meeting the Department of Defense (DoD) body fat standard (< or = 18%) and those exceeding the standard (> 18%). Ninety-nine male 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Soldiers were assigned to group 1: < or = 18% body fat (BF) or group 2: > 18% BE. Groups 1 and 2 had similar amounts of fat-free mass (FFM) (66.8 +/- 8.2 vs. 64.6 +/- 8.0, p = 177). Each subject performed a Wingate cycle protocol to test anaerobic power and capacity, an incremental treadmill maximal oxygen uptake test for aerobic capacity, isokinetic tests for knee flexion/extension and shoulder internal/external rotation strength, and the Army Physical Fitness Test. Results showed group 1: < 18% BF performed significantly better on 7 of the 10 fitness tests. In Soldiers with similar amounts of FFM, Soldiers with less body fat had improved aerobic and anaerobic capacity and increased muscular strength.
authors.affiliation: Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, University of Pittsburgh, 3830 South Water St., Pittsburgh, PA 15203, USA.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: Katelyn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fleishman
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Abt
authors.forename: Timothy C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Sell
authors.forename: Mita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lovalekar
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deluzio
authors.forename: Russell S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Rowe
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: McGrail
authors.forename: Scott M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lephart
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness; D014481:United States