Changes in Body Composition Measures of Cadets During a Twelve-week Training Program

Abstract

LEARNING OUTCOME: To describe different methods of body composition assessment to estimate percent body fat of cadets before and after a 12-week long law enforcement training program A component of a 12-week regional law enforcement training program includes fitness training, but no nutrition intervention. Conventional fitness assessment of the program includes aspects of muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness; however, assessment of body composition is not usually performed. To improve the cadets fitness, the program incorporates one hour of physical training (PT) four days/week. To better evaluate the status of cadets entering the program and the effects of training, we assessed body composition in the first and last week of the program. Measurements included height, weight, a 3-site skinfolds (Jackson & Pollock) and bioelectrical (BIA, RJL) resistance and reactance. Calculated variables evaluated included body mass index (BMI) and body fat by both skinfolds (BF-S) and by BIA (BF-BIA). A comparison of these variables for the first and last weeks were made only for paired data. Entering cadets (age = 28.3±0.65) had a BMI of 30.1±0.6, a BF-S of 24.3±0.6, and BF-BIA of 29.2±0.7. The pre-post comparison showed modest reduction in body weight (−0.62±0.34 kg) and BMI (−0.18±0.11 kg/m 2). Small but significant (p>0.05, paired t-test) decreases were found for BF-S (−0.65±0.25 % fat) and BF-BIA (2.56±0.30 % fat). These data indicate that many entering cadets are at moderate risk (BMI of Grade II or above). Modest reductions in body fat were associated with small increases in lean body mass. Alone, PT successfully lowered body fat but only at minimal levels. These findings support the introduction of nutritional intervention by menu modifications and individual counseling to reduce the risk of disease