title: Self-reported physical activity and preaccession fitness testing in U.S. Army applicants.
abstract: The Assessment of Recruit Motivation and Strength (ARMS) study evaluated a physical fitness screening test for Army applicants before basic training. This report examines applicants' self-reported physical activity as a predictor of objective fitness measured by ARMS. In 2006, the ARMS study administered a fitness test and physical activity survey to Army applicants during their medical evaluation, using multiple logistic regression for comparison. Among both men and women, "qualified" and "exceeds-body-fat" subjects who met American College of Sports Medicine adult physical activity guidelines were more likely to pass the fitness test. Overall, subjects who met physical activity recommendations, watched less television, and played on sports teams had a higher odds of passing the ARMS test after adjustment for age, race, and smoking status. This study demonstrates that self-reported physical activity was associated with physical fitness and may be used to identify those at risk of failing a preaccession fitness test.
authors: Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Epidemiology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
authors: Marlene E
authors: ME
authors: Gubata
authors: David N
authors: DN
authors: Cowan
authors: Sheryl A
authors: SA
authors: Bedno
authors: Nadia
authors: N
authors: Urban
authors: David W
authors: DW
authors: Niebuhr
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D009043:Motor Activity; D010560:Personnel Selection / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult