Relationship Between Body Fat and Physical Fitness in Army ROTC Cadets.
The Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), including timed push-ups, sit-ups, and run, assesses physical performance for the Army. Percent body fat is estimated using height and circumference measurements. The objectives of the study were to (a) compare the accuracy of height and circumference measurements to other, more accepted, body fat assessment methods and (b) determine the relationships between body composition and APFT results. Participants included Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets (n = 11 males, 2 females, 21.6 ± 3.5 years) from a midwestern university). At one visit, percent body fat was assessed using height and circumference measurements, air-displacement plethysmography, and bioelectrical impedance analysis. APFT results were provided by the ROTC director. All assessment methods for percent body fat were strongly associated (r ≥ 0.7, p < 0.01), implying that height and circumference measurement is a practical tool to estimate percent body fat of ROTC cadets. Total APFT score was not associated with any body fat assessment method. Push-up number was negatively associated with percent body fat by all assessment methods (r ≥ -0.8, p = 0.001), although run time was positively associated (r ≥ 0.6, p < 0.05). This suggests that percent body fat may be an important variable in determining or improving cardiovascular and muscular endurance, but not APFT performance.
School of Family and Consumer Sciences, Bowling Green State University, 201 Family and Consumer Sciences Building, Bowling Green, OH 43403.
Carly L
CL
Steed
School of Family and Consumer Sciences, Bowling Green State University, 101 Family and Consumer Sciences Building, Bowling Green, OH 43403.
Benjamin R
BR
Krull
School of Human Movement, Sport and Leisure Studies, Bowling Green State University, 213 Eppler South, Bowling Green, OH 43403.
Amy L
AL
Morgan
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, 2110 South Anthony Hall, 474 South Shaw Lane, East Lansing, MI 48824.
Robin M
RM
Tucker
Department of Public and Allied Health, Bowling Green State University, 135 Health Center, Bowling Green, OH 43403.
Mary-Jon
MJ
Ludy
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States; D008889:Military Personnel; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D010991:Plethysmography / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult