Comparison of Anthropometric Measures in US Military Personnel in the Classification of Overweight and Obesity

Comparisons of Baseline Obesity Prevalence and Its Association with Perceived Health and Physical Performance in Military Officers

Increasing obesity rates among USA military members vary by age, pay grade, and measurement methods and threaten force fitness and readiness. Limited research has directly measured obesity among officers; those enrolled in graduate school at the Command and General Staff College (CGSC) face additional demands and increased obesity risk. This study compared obesity measurements and performance on the Army Physical Fitness test and self-rated health for a sample of mostly CGSC officers. Participants (n = 136, 75.7% male, 79.6% officers) completed body composition measures; BMI, body fat percentage (BF%), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) estimated obesity rates and were compared for discordance. Army Physical Fitness Test pass/fail rates and self-reported perceived health were compared with each obesity classification. Obesity prevalence was 18.5-39.7%, differing by sex and measure. BMI, WC, and WHtR underestimated obesity compared to BF% at least 21% of the time. WHtR had the lowest discordance with BF%. Soldiers categorized as obese were significantly more likely to fail the fitness test and report lower self-rated health than non-obese soldiers. Overall, obesity rates among our primarily officer sample were higher than previous studies, particularly for women. Interventions to address obesity are necessary among military officers to optimize human performance.

Military Body Composition Standards and Physical Performance: Historical Perspectives and Future Directions

ABSTRACT

Harty, PS, Friedl, KE, Nindl, BC, Harry, JR, Vellers, HL, and Tinsley, GM. Military body composition standards and physical performance: historical perspectives and future directions. J Strength Cond Res 36(12): 3551-3561, 2022-US military physique and body composition standards have been formally used for more than 100 years. These metrics promote appropriate physical fitness, trim appearance, and long-term health habits in soldiers, although many specific aspects of these standards have evolved as evidence-based changes have emerged. Body composition variables have been shown to be related to many physical performance outcomes including aerobic capacity, muscular endurance, strength and power production, and specialized occupational tasks involving heavy lifting and load carriage. Although all these attributes are relevant, individuals seeking to improve military performance should consider emphasizing strength, hypertrophy, and power production as primary training goals, as these traits appear vital to success in the new Army Combat Fitness Test introduced in 2020. This fundamental change in physical training may require an adjustment in body composition standards and methods of measurement as physique changes in modern male and female soldiers. Current research in the field of digital anthropometry (i.e., 3-D body scanning) has the potential to dramatically improve performance prediction algorithms and potentially could be used to inform training interventions. Similarly, height-adjusted body composition metrics such as fat-free mass index might serve to identify normal weight personnel with inadequate muscle mass, allowing for effective targeted nutritional and training interventions. This review provides an overview of the origin and evolution of current US military body composition standards in relation to military physical readiness, summarizes current evidence relating body composition parameters to aspects of physical performance, and discusses issues relevant to the emerging modern male and female warrior.

Health Disparities Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Service Members and Veterans

INTRODUCTION

This study investigated whether health disparities exist among lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals serving in the U.S. military by examining the associations of sexual orientation with mental, physical, and behavioral health among a population-based sample of service members and veterans.

METHODS

Sexual orientation and health outcomes were self-reported on the 2016 Millennium Cohort Study follow-up questionnaire (N=96,930). Health outcomes were assessed across 3 domains: mental health (post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, binge eating, problematic anger), physical health (multiple somatic symptoms, physical functioning, BMI), and behavioral health (smoking, problem and risky drinking, insomnia). Adjusted logistic regression models conducted between 2019 and 2022 estimated the associations between sexual orientation and each health outcome.

RESULTS

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals (3.6% of the sample) were more likely to screen positive for post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, binge eating, problematic anger, multiple somatic symptoms, and insomnia than heterosexual individuals. Gay/lesbian and bisexual women reported more adverse health outcomes (overweight and obesity, smoking, problem/risky drinking) than heterosexual women. Gay and bisexual men reported some adverse health outcomes (e.g., smoking and problem drinking) but better physical health (e.g., less overweight/obesity) than heterosexual men.

CONCLUSIONS

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual service members reported poorer mental, physical, and behavioral health than heterosexual peers, most notably among gay/lesbian women and bisexual individuals. Findings suggest that lesbian, gay, and bisexual service members experience health disparities, despite many having equal eligibility for health care, highlighting the need for improved equity initiatives that promote cultural responsiveness, acceptance, and approaches to support the healthcare needs of lesbian, gay, and bisexual military members.

Association between Diet, Physical Activity and Nutritional Status of Male Border Guard Officers

The main factors that determine the effectiveness and reliability of duties and tasks performed by border guard officers, are very good health and maintaining a high level of psychophysical fitness that depend mainly on adequate diet and physical activity and thus, nutritional status. The aim of the study was to verify the correlations between dietary habits, physical activity level and selected nutritional status indicators. One hundred and sixty-nine male border guard officers participated in the study. A 61-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to assess dietary habits and a long-form International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to assess physical activity. Fat mass was determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and bone calcification was assessed by the dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Many correlations between dietary habits, as well as the physical activity of officers and body mass index (BMI), fat mass index (FMI) and visceral fat level (VFL) were found, while bone mineral density (BMD T-score) negatively correlated only with two food groups and 6 out of 61 products but did not correlate with physical activity. The results also confirmed many poor dietary habits and abnormalities in nutritional status. Thus, there is a need for nutritional education and further monitoring of health-related behaviors, as well as monitoring the nutritional status of border guard officers.

Overweight BMI (25-29) in Active Duty Military: Excess Fat or More Lean Mass? A Look at the Evidence

Many active duty service members and their health care providers feel that the current body mass index (BMI) standard for diagnosing obesity, BMI ≥30 kg/m2, may unfairly overclassify as obese those with higher muscle mass. Unfortunately, a closer look at the data available for service members repeatedly demonstrates the exact opposite: we are actually underestimating the rates of obesity in service members using current BMI cutoffs when compared with body fat mass as measured by either dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry or bioelectrical impedance analysis as the gold standard. Using a lower BMI threshold and refining positive results via history, exam, labs, and/or more specific measurements of body composition would more accurately estimate body fat percentage in active duty service members while remaining convenient and scalable. Given the current obesity epidemic in our nation, this suggests the critical need for new approaches to screening, as well as treatment, of overweight and obesity in our military to improve service readiness.