This book surveys the entire field of body composition as it relates to performance. It includes a clear definition of terminology and a discussion of the various methods for measuring body composition.

The authored papers represent a state-of-the-art review of this controversial field and address questions such as: What is a better measure of body composition--body fat or lean body mass? Does being overweight for one's height really affect performance?

The book also addresses the issue of physical appearance as it relates to body fatness and performance. It includes an in-depth discussion of many of the topics of interest to those involved in sports medicine and exercise physiology.

Contents

• COMMITTEE ON MILITARY NUTRITION RESEARCH
• FOOD AND NUTRITION BOARD
• PREFACE
• Acknowledgments
• PART I. OVERVIEW
  • 1. Introduction and Background
    • The Committee's Task
    • Current Physical Standards For Accession and Retention in the Military
    • Procedures Used By the Military Services For Failure To Meet Physical Or Performance Standards
    • Methods For Assessing Body Composition
    • Factors That May Influence Body Composition
    • Body Weight, Composition, and Physical Performance
    • Relationship of Lean Body Mass Versus Body Fatness To Performance of Physical Tasks
    • Relationship of Body Composition and Injury
    • Relationship of Body Composition To Health
    • Body Composition and Military Appearance
    • Assessing Body Composition For Individuals Who Fail To Meet Military Standards
    • Comments On Body Composition Standards
    • References
  • 2. Conclusions and Recommendations
    • Conclusions
    • Recommendations
    • Areas For Future Research
• PART II. INVITED PAPERS
  • 3. Body Composition And Military Performance: Origins Of The Army Standards
    • Introduction
    • The Current Army Weight Control Program: Policy And Goals
    • The Development Of Military Accession Standards
    • World War II Height-Weight Standards
    • Retention Standards In The Military
    • Department Of Defense Directive 1308.1 And The U.S. Army Body Fat Standards
    • Conclusions
  • 4. Body Composition In The Military Services: Standards And Methods
    • Background
    • Body Composition Standards
    • Body Composition Measurement
    • Summary
    • References
  • 5. Effects of Experimental Alterations in Excess Weight On Physiological Responses To Exercise and Physical Performance
    • Introduction
    • Excess Weight, Aerobic Capacity and Running Performance
    • Running Performance, Metabolic Responses and Gender Differences
    • Physical Performance, Body Fat and Women Athletes
    • References
  • 6. Army Data: Body Composition and Physical Capacity
    • Introduction
    • Design and Methods
    • Results
    • Discussion
    • References
  • 7. The Relationship Of Body Size And Composition To The Performance Of Physically Demanding Military Tasks
    • Introduction
    • References
  • 8. New Approaches To Body Composition Evaluation And Some Relationships To Dynamic Muscular Strength
    • New Approaches To Body Composition Evaluation
    • The Body Profile: An Enhancement Of The Somatogram
    • Some Relationships To Dynamic Muscular Strength
    • Acknowledgments
    • References
  • 9. Associations Among Body Composition, Physical Fitness, and Injury in Men and Women Army Trainees
    • Introduction
    • Two Army Studies of Body Composition, Fitness, and Injury
    • References
  • 10. Body Composition, Morbidity, And Mortality
    • Introduction
    • Methods Of Measuring Body Composition
    • Accuracy Of Measurements
    • Using A Four-Compartment Model For Studies Of Body Composition
    • Associations Among Body Composition, Disease And Death
    • Summary
    • Acknowledgment
    • References
  • 11. Critique of the Military's Approach To Body Composition Assessment and Evaluation
    • Approaches
    • Discussion
    • Conclusions and Recommendations
    • References
  • 12. Body Composition and Performance in Relation To Environment
    • Definition of Obesity
    • Performance in Comfortable Climates
    • Other Implications of Obesity
    • Hot and Cold Environments
    • Conclusions and Recommendations
    • References
  • 13. Sex Differences and Ethnic/Racial Differences in Body Size and Body Composition
    • Sex Differences in Body Size and Body Composition
    • Ethnic and Racial Differences in Body Mass and Body Composition
    • Relevant Epidemiologic Aspects of Fatness and Fitness
    • Acknowledgments
    • Appendix
• PART III. COMMITTEE DISCUSSION PAPER
  • 14. Body Composition Measurement: Accuracy, Validity, and Comparability
    • Background
    • Methods and Assumptions
    • Research Applications
    • Summary
    • References
• APPENDIXES
  • A Accession Standards for the Military Services
  • B Retention Standards for the Military Services
  • C Weight-For-Height Tables
  • D Proposed Revisions To Accession (Ar 40-501) And Retention (Ar 600-9) Body Weight And Body Fat Standards
  • E Recent Changes To The U.S. Army Standards For Accession And Retention
  • F Biographical Sketches

This report was produced under grants DAMD17-86-G-6036/R and DAMD17-92-J-2003 between the National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command. The views, opinions, and/or findings contained in chapters in Part II authored by U.S. Army personnel are those of the authors and should not be construed as official Department of the Army position, policy, or decision, unless so designated by other official documentation. Human subjects who participated in studies described in those chapters gave their free and informed voluntary consent. Investigators adhered to U.S. Army regulation 25 and United States Army Medical Research and Development Command regulation 70-25 on use of volunteers in research. The chapters are approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance. Part I of this report has been reviewed by a group other than the authors according to procedures approved by a Report Review Committee consisting of members of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine.

The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to enlist distinguished members of the appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. In this, the Institute acts under both the Academy's 1863 congressional charter responsibility to be an adviser to the federal government and its own initiative in identifying issues of medical care, research, and education.