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Less body fat improves physical and physiological performance in army soldiers.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Crawford, K; Fleishman, K; Abt, JP; Sell, TC; Lovalekar, M; Nagai, T; Deluzio, J; Rowe, RS; McGrail, MA; Lephart, SM
Published in: Mil Med
January 2011

The purpose of this study was to compare physical and physiological fitness test performance between Soldiers meeting the Department of Defense (DoD) body fat standard (< or = 18%) and those exceeding the standard (> 18%). Ninety-nine male 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Soldiers were assigned to group 1: < or = 18% body fat (BF) or group 2: > 18% BE. Groups 1 and 2 had similar amounts of fat-free mass (FFM) (66.8 +/- 8.2 vs. 64.6 +/- 8.0, p = 177). Each subject performed a Wingate cycle protocol to test anaerobic power and capacity, an incremental treadmill maximal oxygen uptake test for aerobic capacity, isokinetic tests for knee flexion/extension and shoulder internal/external rotation strength, and the Army Physical Fitness Test. Results showed group 1: < 18% BF performed significantly better on 7 of the 10 fitness tests. In Soldiers with similar amounts of FFM, Soldiers with less body fat had improved aerobic and anaerobic capacity and increased muscular strength.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Mil Med

DOI

ISSN

0026-4075

Publication Date

January 2011

Volume

176

Issue

1

Start / End Page

35 / 43

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Strategic, Defence & Security Studies
  • Physical Fitness
  • Oxygen Consumption
  • Muscle Strength
  • Military Personnel
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Exercise Test
  • Body Composition
 

Citation

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Crawford, K., Fleishman, K., Abt, J. P., Sell, T. C., Lovalekar, M., Nagai, T., … Lephart, S. M. (2011). Less body fat improves physical and physiological performance in army soldiers. Mil Med, 176(1), 35–43. https://doi.org/10.7205/milmed-d-10-00003
Crawford, Kim, Katelyn Fleishman, John P. Abt, Timothy C. Sell, Mita Lovalekar, Takashi Nagai, Jennifer Deluzio, Russell S. Rowe, Mark A. McGrail, and Scott M. Lephart. “Less body fat improves physical and physiological performance in army soldiers.Mil Med 176, no. 1 (January 2011): 35–43. https://doi.org/10.7205/milmed-d-10-00003.
Crawford K, Fleishman K, Abt JP, Sell TC, Lovalekar M, Nagai T, et al. Less body fat improves physical and physiological performance in army soldiers. Mil Med. 2011 Jan;176(1):35–43.
Crawford, Kim, et al. “Less body fat improves physical and physiological performance in army soldiers.Mil Med, vol. 176, no. 1, Jan. 2011, pp. 35–43. Pubmed, doi:10.7205/milmed-d-10-00003.
Crawford K, Fleishman K, Abt JP, Sell TC, Lovalekar M, Nagai T, Deluzio J, Rowe RS, McGrail MA, Lephart SM. Less body fat improves physical and physiological performance in army soldiers. Mil Med. 2011 Jan;176(1):35–43.

Published In

Mil Med

DOI

ISSN

0026-4075

Publication Date

January 2011

Volume

176

Issue

1

Start / End Page

35 / 43

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Strategic, Defence & Security Studies
  • Physical Fitness
  • Oxygen Consumption
  • Muscle Strength
  • Military Personnel
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Exercise Test
  • Body Composition