Relationships between select anthropometric variables and physical fitness test performance in ROTC cadets by sex
Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if relationships existed between body composition and measures of muscular endurance and aerobic fitness among male and female ROTC cadets by sex. METHODS: Archived data for 74 (male = 57, female = 17) Army ROTC cadets from a large Midwestern university were used for this analysis. Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) scores for the 2-minute push-up (PU), 2-minute sit-up (SU), and 2-mile run (2MR) test were performed by cadets as part of their normal physical training. One week after performing the APFT, height, body mass, and body fat percentage (BF%) (e.g., InBody 270) were collected. Using these measurements, body mass index (BMI) and lean body mass (LBM) were then calculated. Pearson's correlations were used to determine relationships between each of the anthropometric variables and fitness tests for each sex. RESULTS: Male cadets were taller and heavier, performed more PUs and SUs, and had faster 2MR times than female cadets. Significant differences between height, body mass, BF%, PU, and SU performance, as well as, 2MR times were found between males and females. No significant difference was found between sexes for BMI. No significant relationships (p > 0.05) were discovered between any anthropometric measures and performance among male and female cadets. CONCLUSION: No significant relationships between fitness test performance and the selected anthropometric variables among male or female ROTC cadets were discovered. However, significant differences between sexes for height, body mass, BF%, PU and SU performance, and 2MR time were found. Additionally, male cadets were taller, larger, and performed better than female cadets. This suggests that males may have an advantage when performing military tests due to having naturally higher muscle mass, greater lung capacity, higher testosterone, and a higher strength threshold than females. Specialized training for female cadets may be beneficial in improving fitness performance and equalizing test pass rate opportunities. More research regarding specialized training for female ROTC cadets may be useful for improving female cadet fitness performance. Furthermore, more research is needed to determine the impact of these anthropometric variables on strength and occupationally related tasks in ROTC cadets.
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