How does maximal aerobic capacity predict the performance of ROTC cadets on the ACFT

The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) is a newly developed test that assesses the combat readiness of U.S. Army soldiers. Maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max) characteristics vary between soldiers and have the ability to affect performance outcomes. The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to determine if VO2max can predict performance outcomes of the ACFT in ROTC cadets. Methods: ROTC cadets (44 males, 15 females; aged 21.06 ± 3.6 years) completed the 6-event ACFT (3-repetition maximum trap-bar deadlift [MDL], standing power toss [SPT], hand-release pushups [HRPU], sprint-drag-carry shuttle run [SDC], plank [PLK], and 2-mile run [2MR]). The cadets were invited into the laboratory to conduct a maximal treadmill running test following the Bruce protocol. The ability for VO2max (mL·kg-1·min-1) to predict ACFT performance was determined with a linear regression model. Significance was set at p \u3c 0.05. Results: VO2max was significantly and positively correlated to MDL (r = .301, p = .018), HRP (r = .525, p \u3c .001), SDC (r = .573, p \u3c .001), PLK (r = .668, p \u3c .001) 2MR (r = .642, p \u3c .001) and overall ACFT score (r = .666, p \u3c .001) except MDL (r = -.021, p = .920), SPT (r = -.173, p = .408), HRP (r = .280, p = .175). VO2max significantly explained 43% (p = .001) of the variance on the total ACFT scores with a beta coefficient of 4.911. Conclusion: There is a gap in the understanding of how VO2max impacts performance in the newly implemented ACFT. VO2max is a predictor of the ACFT total and significantly correlates with the MDL, HRP, SDC, PLK, and 2MR. VO2max did not correlate with the individual event SPT. For every .715 mL·kg-1·min-1 increase in VO2max, ACFT total scores increased by 4.911 points. These findings create the need for further research due to the majority of U.S. Army personnel failing the PLK and 2MR, which can be associated with an insignificant aerobic capacity

Body Adiposity Index Superior to Body Mass Index in Predicting Adiposity in Army ROTC Cadets

The Army’s standards to assess body composition were established in the 1960s. The current body composition assessment is due for change as there are newer alternate methods to assess body composition using adiposity. Body Mass Index (BMI) is moderately correlated with % body fat and often used to assess obesity in the general population. The Body Adiposity Index (BAI) is an alternative anthropometric measurement suggested to be superior to BMI at predicting adiposity, but has not been well assessed within military populations. PURPOSE: The purpose of this correlational study was to determine the accuracy of the BMI overweight category as a measure of fatness in ROTC cadets, and to determine if BAI is a superior predictor of % body fat to BMI. METHODS: ROTC cadets were invited into the laboratory for measurements of height, weight, and body fat via BOD POD. Bodyfat above 33% was considered overfat and BMI \u3e25 kg/m2 was considered overweight. BAI was calculated as (Hip Circumference/Height1.5)–18. Pearson correlation determined the strength of relationships. RESULTS: 83 collegiate-aged (20.91 ± 3.37 yr.) ROTC cadets with an average BMI of 24.85 ± 4.87 kg/m2 and % body fat of 23.69 ± 5.95 participated in the study. BMI and BAI significantly predicted % body fat (r = .508, p \u3c 0.001, r = .482, p \u3c 0.001, respectively). When using BMI to determine overfat, 4% (n = 2) of ROTC cadets had a false positive (overweight, normal fat) and 10% (n = 5) had a false negative (normal weight, overfat). BMI predicts 25.8% of body fat and BAI predicts 23.2% of body fat. Because BMI and BAI are statistically similar, both are good predictors of % body fat. Conclusion: Due to the army’s outdated recent measures of body composition, alternative methods could improve quality and consistency of assessments in the future with the use of BMI and BAI

How does body composition predict the performance of ROTC cadets on the ACFT

The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) is a newly developed test assessing U.S. Army soldiers\u27 combat readiness. Body composition characteristics vary between soldiers and could affect performance outcomes. The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to determine whether fat-mass and fat-free-mass can predict performance outcomes of the ACFT in ROTC cadets. Methods: ROTC cadets (31 males, 21 females; aged 20.5 ± 2.2 years) completed the 6-event ACFT (3-repetition maximum trap-bar deadlift [MDL], standing power toss [SPT], hand-release pushups [HRPU], sprint-drag-carry shuttle run [SDC], plank [PLK], and 2-mile run [2MR]). The cadets were invited into the laboratory for measurements of anthropometrics (height, weight, and body mass index [BMI]) and body composition analysis via the air displacement plethysmograph (body fat mass [BFM], fat-free mass [FFM]). The ability of body composition to predict ACFT performance was determined with a linear regression model. Significance was set at p \u3c 0.05. Results: BFM was significantly and negatively correlated to SDC (r = -.383, p = .005), PLK (r = -.567, p \u3c .001), 2MR (r = -.577, p \u3c .001), HRP (r = -.501, p \u3c .001) and overall ACFT score (r = -.574, p = .001) except 3DL (r = .199, p = .154) and SPT (r = -.193, p = .166). FFM was significantly correlated to SDC (r = .411, p = .001), PLK (r = .249, p = .047), 3DL (r = .266, p = .034), SPT (r = .458, p = .001), and overall ACFT score (r = .364, p = .003) except 2MR (r = .137, p \u3c .279) HRP (r = .126, p = .322). BFM significantly explained 33% (p = .001) of the variance on the total ACFT scores with a beta coefficient -4.632. Conclusion: Body composition measurements of BFM and FFM are predictors of the ACFT total score. These data show that both BFM and FFM are important metrics for assessing a soldier’s combat readiness. For every 1% increase in body fat, ACFT scores decreased by 4 points. For every 1kg increase in FFM, ACFT score increased by 1.5 points

How does diet quality predict the performance of ROTC cadets on the ACFT

The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) is a newly developed test assessing U.S. Army soldiers\u27 combat readiness. The Healthy Eating Index 2015 (HEI-2015) is a questionnaire established by the USDA that quantifies overall diet quality. The HEI-2015 uses a scale of 0 to 100 with higher scores aligning more with the recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The HEI-2015 is comprised of 13 subcategories: Total Fruits [TF], Whole Fruits [WF], Total Vegetables [TV], Greens and Beans [GB], Whole Grains [WG], Dairy [D], Total Protein foods [TP], Seafood and Plant Proteins [SPP], Fatty Acids [FA], Refined Grains [RG], Sodium [S], Added Sugars [AS], and Saturated Fats [SF]. Purpose: The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to determine if diet quality can predict performance outcomes of the ACFT in ROTC cadets. Methods: ROTC cadets (31 males, 21 females; aged 20.5 ± 2.2 years) completed the 6-event ACFT (3-repetition maximum trap-bar deadlift [MDL], standing power toss [SPT], hand-release pushups [HRPU], sprint-drag-carry [SDC], plank [PLK], and 2-mile run [2MR]). The cadets were invited into the laboratory to complete the HEI-2015. The ability of the HEI-2015 to predict ACFT performance was determined with a linear regression model. Significance was set at p \u3c 0.05. Results: HEI-2015 total score was significantly and positively correlated to ACFT total score, showing (r = .319, p = .014). Subcategories of the HEI-2015 were positively and significantly correlated with ACFT total scores, GB (r = .326, p = .012), SPP (r = .349, p = .007), and FA (r = .263, p = .044). HEI-2015 total score significantly explained 10% (p = .014) of the variance on the ACFT total scores with a beta coefficient 3.121. Conclusion: HEI-2015 total score, GB, SPP, and FA are all predictors of the ACFT total score. This data shows that overall diet quality is an important factor in determining a soldier’s combat readiness. For every 1.2 point increase in HEI-2015 total score, it is predicted that ACFT total score will increase by 3.1 points