Abstract
Assessing temporal changes in anthropometrics and body composition of US Army soldiers is important because these changes may affect fitness, performance, and safety. This study investigated differences in body dimensions (height, weight, percent body fat (%BF)) of US Army male soldiers by comparing 2004 and 1988 databases. Anthropometric somatotypes were identified and physiological responses of the different somatotypes to simulated heat stress (35°C/50%rh, ∼550 W work rate, carrying 12 kg load including battle dress uniform and body armor, rest for 30 min and walk for 70 min) using a thermal regulatory model were evaluated. A significant increase in body weight (2.4 kg) was observed between the 2004 and 1988 data (P < 0.05, after Bonferroni correction). However, changes in height and circumference measurements for %BF were insignificant, with the magnitude of the changes not exceeding inter-observer errors. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that anthropometric distributions did not differ between the two databases and identified five primary somatotypes: “tall-fat”, “tall-lean”, “average”, “short-lean”, and “short-fat.” Within each database, anthropometric values differed among the somatotypes. However, simulated physiological responses to heat stress in each somatotype were similar in the 2004 and 1988 populations. In conclusion, an increase in body weight was the primary change observed in this sample of US Army male soldiers. Temporal changes in somatotypes of soldiers over a 16-year period had minimal impact on simulated physiological response to heat stress using a thermal regulatory model.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Dr. C. Gordon, Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering (NSRDE) and COL K. Friedl, Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC) for the datasets. The authors also thank Dr. W. Santee and Dr. R. Hoyt, USARIEM, for critical comments on this paper, and Mr. Julio Gonzalez (USARIEM) for generating computer graphics.
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Disclaimer: The investigators have adhered to the policies for protection of human subjects as prescribed in Army Regulation 70-25, and the research was conducted in adherence with the provisions of 32 CFR Part 219. The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the author(s) and are not to be construed as official or reflecting the views of the Army or the Department of Defense.
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Yokota, M., Bathalon, G.P. & Berglund, L.G. Assessment of male anthropometric trends and the effects on simulated heat stress responses. Eur J Appl Physiol 104, 297–302 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-007-0656-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-007-0656-8