You are here

Home » Content

Body Mass Index and Army Physical Fitness Test Standards in ROTC Cadets

Journal Name:

  • International Journal of Science and Engineering Investigations

Publication Year:

  • 2012

Key Words:

Author NameUniversity of Author
Abstract (2. Language): 
The United States Army administers fitness tests and collects height and weight data for soldiers and cadets in order to determine a measure of physical readiness. This study examined individual test results from the U.S. Army’s Physical Fitness Test (PFT) and respective Body Mass Index (BMI) to see if any association existed in male ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps.) cadets. If a correlation was found between BMI and PFT scores, then leaders could more accurately predict how an individual would perform on an upcoming fitness evaluation. 145 male (age 17-31) ROTC college students’ PFT scores and BMI measurements were analyzed via a Pearson Correlation Coefficient to determine if a meaningful correlation existed between them. Raw and point adjusted (percentiles) scores were evaluated. There was no meaningful relationship found between BMI and an individual’s respective scores on push-ups, sit-ups, or two mile run times. BMI is not an accurate predictor of Army PFT scores for male cadets in the age range of 17-31. Further studies are required to determine if an association exists between an individual’s PFT scores and other anthropometric measurements as well as applicability to both genders and other age groups.
Bookmark/Search this post with
FULL TEXT (PDF): 
PDF icon arastirmax-body-mass-index-and-army-physical-fitness-test-standards-rotc-cadets.pdf
  • 10
54-58
  • English

REFERENCES

References: 

1] Gallagher, D., Heymsfield, S. B., Heo, M., Jebb, S. A., Murgatroyd, P. R., & Sakamoto, Y. (2000). Healthy percentage body fat ranges: An approach for developing guidelines based on body mass index. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 72(3), 694-701.
[2] Ebben, W. P., Wurm, B., VanderZanden, T. L., Spadavecchia, M. L., Durocher, J. J., Bickham, C. T., & Petushek, E. J. (2011). Kinetic analysis of several variations of push-ups. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 25(10), 2891-4.
[3] Mayhew, J. L., Ball, T. E., Arnold, M. D., & Bowen, J. C. (1991). Push-ups as a measure of upper body strength. The Journal of Applied Sport Science Research, 5(1), 272.
[4] FBI special agent physical lfitness test scoring scale. (n.d.). Retrieved October 9, 2011, from Federal Bureau of Investigation: http://www.fbijobs.gov
[5] Henning, P. C., Khamouri, A. V., & Brown, L. E. (2011). Preparatory strength and endurance training for U.S. Army basic combat training. Strength and Conditioning Journal, 33(5), 48-57.
[6] Whiting, W. C., Rugg, S., Coleman, A., & Vincent, W. J. (1999). Muscle activity during sit-ups using abdominal exercise devices. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 13(4), 339-45.
[7] Wong, S. L., Katzmarzyk, P. T., Nichaman, M. Z., Church, T. S., Blair, S. N., & Ross, R. (2004). Cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with lower abdominal fat independent of body mass index. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 36(2), 286-91.
[8] Fit for the Army. (n.d.). Retrieved October 4, 2011, from The British Army Website: http://www.army.mod.uk/join
[9] Stevens, J., Juhaeri, Cai, J., & Jones, D. W. (2002). The effect of decision rules on the choice of a body mass index cutoff for obesity: examples from African American and white women. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 75, 986-92.
[10] Army, D. O. (2010). Army Physical Readiness Training. Washington, D.C.
[11] Safrit, M. J., & Wood, T. M. (1995). Introduction to measurement in physical education and exercise science. (pp.71). Maryland Heights: Mosby.
[12] Thomas, D. Q., Lumpp, S. A., Schreiber, J. A., & Keith, J. A. (2004). Physical fitness profile of Army ROTC Cadets. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 18(4), 904-7.
[13] Russell, A.R., Esco, M.R., Lizana, S.N., Williford, H.N., Olson, M.S., Kim, H. (2011). The accuracy of a BMI-based equation in predicting percent body fat in college-age female athletes. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 25(1), 35-36.
[14] Silvestre, R., Kraemer, W.J., West, C., Judelson, D.A., Spiering, B.A., Vingren, J.L., Hatfield, D.L., Anderson, J.M., Maresh, C.M. (2006). Body composition and physical performance during a national collegiate athletic association Division I men’s soccer season. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 20(4), 962-70.
[15] Walsh, J., Climstein, M., Heazlewood, I.T., Burke, S., Kuttunen, J., Adams, K.J., & DeBeliso, M. (2011). Variations in body mass index with age in masters athletes (World Masters Games). Journal of the World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology. 7(77), 1115-1119.
[16] Walsh, J., Climstein, M., Heazlewood, IT., DeBeliso, M., Adams, KJ., Burke, S., & Juttunen, J (2011). Obesity prevalence in World Masters Games basketball players. Medicina Sportiva. VII(4), 1700-1705.
[17] Walsh, J., Heazlewood, I.T., Climstein, M., Burke, S., Adams, K.J., DeBeliso, M., & Kettunen, J. (2011). Body mass index for Australian athletes participating in rugby union, soccer and touch football at the World Masters games. Journal of the World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology. 7(77), 1119-1123.
[18] DeBeliso, M., Walsh, J., Adams, K.J., Climstein, M., Heazlewood, I.T., Burke, S., & Kettunen, J. (2012). Body mass index of North American participants at the World Masters Games. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 44(5), S143.
[19] Walsh, J., Climstein, M., Burke, S., Kettunen, J., Heazlewood, I.T., DeBeliso, M., & Adams, K. J. (2012). Obesity prevalence for athletes participating in soccer at the World Masters Games. International SportMed Journal, (13):2.
[20] Walsh, J., Climstein, M., Heazlewood, I.T., Kettunen, J., DeBeliso, M., & Adams, K. J. Body mass index for athletes participating in swimming at the World Masters Games. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. (In Press).
[21] DeBeliso, M., Walsh, J., Adams, K.J., Climstein, M., Heazlewood, I.T., Sevene, T., & Kettunen, J. (2012). World Masters Games North American body mass index profile. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 15(6), S320.

Thank you for copying data from http://www.arastirmax.com