Daily Caloric Requirement, Body Mass Index And Correlations With Exercise Duration, Frequency And Modality Of United States Service Academy Cadets

Abstract

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine the daily caloric requirement and body mass index (BMI), and identify correlates between BMI and exercise duration, frequency and modality selection of students at a United States Service Academy. METHODS Seventy male and ten female subjects (age 20.1 ±0.6 yrs; male: Ht: 1.8 ±0.1m, Wt: 79.2±9.8 kg; female: Ht: 1.6±0.1m, Wt: 64.5±4.0 kg) completed a questionnaire identifying daily activity level, weekly exercise frequency (WEF), exercise session duration (ESD) and exercise modality (running (R), strength training (S), combatives (C), ball/team sports (B) or alternate aerobic event (A)). Daily energy requirements (DER) without exercise were calculated by multiplying body weight by estimated energy requirements per kilogram of body weight based on lifestyle patterns and gender. Average daily calories expended as a result of exercise (EEE) was calculated using daily exercise session duration and total calories expended per minute based on type of exercise conducted. Total daily energy requirement (TDER) was calculated by summing the daily energy requirements without exercise and daily calories expended as a result of exercise. RESULTS Data are presented as means±SD. Exercise selection by gender was similar (male: R 55.7%, S 12.9%, C 7.9%, B 7.9%, A 17.1%; female: R 50.0%, S 5.0%, C 10.0%, B 15.0%, A 20.0%). Regression analysis produced no significant results correlating BMI with exercise session frequency (male r=0.21; female r=−0.06), duration (male r=0.03; female r=0.02,), or modality (male r=−0.11; female r=−0.03). 56.3% of the subjects were overweight. (BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m2). 3.8% were obese (BMI≥30.0 kg/m2).TableCONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggest that there is no correlation between exercise frequency, duration or modality selection and BMI in highly active populations. Total daily energy requirements for male and female subjects were approximately 200 kcals above Dietary Reference Intakes for similar age groups. BMI, which cannot account for muscle and fat mass, should be used with caution in highly active populations.