Effect of an Accelerometer on Body Weight and Fitness in Overweight and Obese Active Duty Soldiers

Abstract

This study evaluated whether using a web-linked accelerometer, plus mandatory physical training, is associated with various weight- and fitness-related outcomes in overweight/obese active duty soldiers. Soldiers who failed the height/weight standards of the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) were randomized to use a Polar FA20 accelerometer device (polar accelerometer group [PA], n = 15) or usual care (UC, n = 13) for 6 months. Both groups received 1.5 hours of lifestyle instruction. We collected data at baseline, 2, 4, and 6 months, and evaluated group differences in temporal changes in study outcomes. At 6 months, 1/28 subjects (UC) passed the APFT height/weight standards. There were no group differences in changes in weight (PA: -0.1 kg vs. UC: +0.3 kg; p = 0.9), body fat (PA: -0.9% vs. UC: -1.1%; p = 0.9), systolic blood pressure (PA: +1.3 mm Hg vs. UC: -2.1 mm Hg; p = 0.2), diastolic blood pressure (PA: +3.8 mm Hg vs. UC: -2.4 mm Hg; p = 0.3), or resting heart rate in beats per minute (bpm) (PA: +7.8 bpm vs. UC: +0.1 bpm; p = 0.2). These results suggest that using an accelerometer with web-based feedback capabilities plus mandatory physical training does not assist in significant weight loss or ability to pass the APFT height/weight standards among overweight/obese soldiers.

Effectiveness of weight loss interventions – is there a difference between men and women: a systematic review

“…The percentage of women within study samples ranged from 14% to 91% , and of those reporting sex distribution, 71% ( n = 41) had >50% female distribution, with 21% ( n = 13) having ≥70% female distribution. Only five studies had more men than women , and only one of these had >70% male. Of the studies that reported the age of men and women separately, the mean age of male participants ranged from 22 to 63 years and female participants from 21 to 65 years.…”

“…Eighteen studies (31%) were published before 1999 (26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43) with the remaining (69%) published from 2000 onwards . Of the 58 studies, 32 (55%) were conducted in the USA (26,27,29,30,(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)39,41,(43)(44)(45)(49)(50)(51)(52)54,57,60,62,65,72,75,76,(78)(79)(80)83,84); 7 in Australia (47,…”

“…diet vs. diet). Of these, 10 compared dietary interventions (27,35,46,53,58,61,72,78,82,83), 2 compared PA (48,49) and 7 compared combinations of diet and PA interventions (31,45,50,62,63,65,79). Two studies compared different interventions (i.e.…”

“…Twenty-nine studies reported within sex effects and 28 studies reported significant intervention effects within men and/or women (29,31,35,(37)(38)(39)(40)42,45,47,48,52,54,58,59,61,62,64,66,67,71,76,77,79,81,83,84,86). The one remaining study reported that there were no significant intervention effects for either sex (49). Six studies did not report whether the differences were significant (26,27,30,75,80,82).…”

Obesity: A United States Strategic Imperative

“…168 In fact, in a study of military members who were overweight, the addition of an accelerometer, combined with computer feedback and mandatory physical training, showed no changes in weight, resting heart rate, blood pressure and only one of 28 subjects passed the APFT and Height/Weight standards after 6 months. 169 Clearly, current methods are ineffective at changing behaviors and producing the desired results. Interactions with fitness, nutrition and medical professionals, along with unit leadership could reinforce the healthy habit formation model, which has been shown to produce significantly greater weight loss.…”