BODY COMPOSITION AND MILITARY PERFORMANCE 1181

Abstract

The relationships between body composition and military task performance are not well understood, despite the existence of body fat standards in the US Armed Forces. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between three military tasks and indices of body composition. 23 males and 41 females performed three maximal tasks comprising a progressive box lift to 1.45 m (L), a fuel can carry (2 × 20 kg) (C), and a 12.8 km march with 15 kg load(M). Height, body mass, and body composition estimated via the Durnin and Womersley skinfold technique were measured on all subjects.Table Significant correlations existed between body mass and L and M in males(p<0.01), and L (p<0.05) and C (p<0.01) in females; between BMI and%fat in both L (p<0.05) and M (p<0.01) in males; between FFM and L(p<0.05) in males and L and C (p<0.01) in females. Stepwise regression revealed a valid common gender prediction model for C, incorporating FFM and BMI (R2=0.72, see=40.5), and for M, incorporating percentage fat only(R2=0.36, see=13.7). However, gender differences in the L model necessitated different equations for males and females. The male L model included body mass (R2=0.29, see=4.93) and female model, FFM(R2=0.29, see=6.61). In conclusion, the relationships between body composition and military performance are complex and inconsistent both between tasks and between genders.