New Concerns About Military Recruits with Metabolic Obesity but Normal Weight (“Skinny Fat”)

Foulis, Stephen A.; Hughes, Julie M.

doi:10.1002/oby.22724

Cited by 13 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…21 A national survey from China covering the period 1985-2014 indicated that obesity is a major driver of decline in the physical fitness of Chinese children and adolescents, including reductions in respiratory function, strength, explosive power, and cardiorespiratory endurance. 22 Consistent with data from other studies, university students with NWO in our study had poor cardiorespiratory endurance and explosive power compared with their NW counterparts. Physical-fitness scores were calculated from a battery of sex-specific tests, and indicated that males and females with NWO had lower fitness scores than males and females with NW.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

<p>Characteristics of Physical Fitness and Cardiometabolic Risk in Chinese University Students with Normal-Weight Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study</p>

Tian¹,

Wang²,

Kaudimba³

et al. 2020

DMSO

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Purpose To (i) describe the characteristics of physical fitness and cardiometabolic risk in Chinese university students with normal-weight obesity (NWO); (ii) assess the association between NWO with physical fitness and cardiometabolic risk. Methods A total of 249 participants from the 2018 Shanghai University of Sport Alumni Health Cohort Study in China formed the study cohort. NWO was defined as normal body mass index (17.9–23.9 kg/m 2 for males; 17.2–23.9 kg/m 2 for females) but with excess body-fat percentage (≥20% for males; ≥30% for females). Body composition was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Physical-fitness scores were calculated from a battery of sex-specific tests. Cardiometabolic risk was calculated using a continuous clustered risk (MetS) score. Results We found that 16.7% of male and 45.3% of female university students were classified as having NWO. Participants with NWO showed worse cardiorespiratory fitness than those with normal weight (NW) (male NWO (37±8) vs male NW (41±6) mL/kg/min, p <0.01; female NWO (31±4) vs female NW (33±6) mL/kg/min, p <0.01). NWO was associated negatively with the fitness score (OR = 0.853; 95% CI = 0.793–0.917) and was associated positively with the MetS score (1.280; 1.162–1.410). Conclusion University students with NWO were characterized by higher cardiometabolic risk and lower levels of physical fitness. Our findings implied that university students with NWO should be mindful of the potential hidden health risks of excess body fat and participate in exercise to enhance physical fitness.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

<p>Characteristics of Physical Fitness and Cardiometabolic Risk in Chinese University Students with Normal-Weight Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study</p>

Tian¹,

Wang²,

Kaudimba³

et al. 2020

DMSO

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“…Relying exclusively on measures of strength (e.g., handgrip), size (e.g., CSA), or performance alone likely limits our ability to draw meaningful conclusions about the effectiveness of a training intervention because they do not tell a complete story. For instance, military body fat standards, which emphasize abdominal circumference measures and/or bioelectrical impedance analysis of body composition, not only have their own flaws when it comes to accuracy and reliability, but are also outdated because recruits today tend to have more body fat and more lean mass compared to previous generations, which aids in their ability to perform lifting and carrying tasks (Foulis et al, 2020). Moreover, there is an increased prevalence of those soldiers who are metabolically obese but normal weight, with low muscle mass and thus overall poor function (Foulis et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discerning Mq From Muscle Size Alonementioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, military body fat standards, which emphasize abdominal circumference measures and/or bioelectrical impedance analysis of body composition, not only have their own flaws when it comes to accuracy and reliability, but are also outdated because recruits today tend to have more body fat and more lean mass compared to previous generations, which aids in their ability to perform lifting and carrying tasks (Foulis et al, 2020). Moreover, there is an increased prevalence of those soldiers who are metabolically obese but normal weight, with low muscle mass and thus overall poor function (Foulis et al, 2020). Absolute handgrip strength is often used in clinical and research settings as a measure of muscle strength and function, but research has demonstrated that this is not the best indicator of function and that forearm MQ is a stronger predictor of physical performance (Abe et al, 2016).…”

Section: Discerning Mq From Muscle Size Alonementioning

confidence: 99%

Skeletal Muscle Quality: A Biomarker for Assessing Physical Performance Capabilities in Young Populations

et al. 2021

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Muscle quality (MQ), defined as the amount of strength and/or power per unit of muscle mass, is a novel index of functional capacity that is increasingly relied upon as a critical biomarker of muscle health in low functioning aging and pathophysiological adult populations. Understanding the phenotypical attributes of MQ and how to use it as an assessment tool to explore the efficacy of resistance exercise training interventions that prioritize functional enhancement over increases in muscle size may have implications for populations beyond compromised adults, including healthy young adults who routinely perform physically demanding tasks for competitive or occupational purposes. However, MQ has received far less attention in healthy young populations than it has in compromised adults. Researchers and practitioners continue to rely upon static measures of lean mass or isolated measures of strength and power, rather than using MQ, to assess integrated functional responses to resistance exercise training and physical stress. Therefore, this review will critically examine MQ and the evidence base to establish this metric as a practical and important biomarker for functional capacity and performance in healthy, young populations. Interventions that enhance MQ, such as high-intensity stretch shortening contraction resistance exercise training, will be highlighted. Finally, we will explore the potential to leverage MQ as a practical assessment tool to evaluate function and enhance performance in young populations in non-traditional research settings.

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“…Such a screening tool could be useful to potentially detect the consequences of disordered eating because of perceived pressure to meet retention standards (124) or quantify the physiological implications of extended energy deficits resulting from prolonged field exercises, training, deployment, or combat (84). In summary, FFMI could prove to be a valuable tool to facilitate targeted improvements in metabolic health and physical performance, particularly in female personnel currently performing ground combat duties (83) or in "skinny fat" service members (29).…”

Section: Sex-specific Body Composition Standards: a Case For Fat-free...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Military Body Composition Standards and Physical Performance: Historical Perspectives and Future Directions

Harty

Friedl

Nindl

et al. 2021

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research

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Harty, PS, Friedl, KE, Nindl, BC, Harry, JR, Vellers, HL, and Tinsley, GM. Military body composition standards and physical performance: historical perspectives and future directions. J Strength Cond Res 36(12): 3551–3561, 2022—US military physique and body composition standards have been formally used for more than 100 years. These metrics promote appropriate physical fitness, trim appearance, and long-term health habits in soldiers, although many specific aspects of these standards have evolved as evidence-based changes have emerged. Body composition variables have been shown to be related to many physical performance outcomes including aerobic capacity, muscular endurance, strength and power production, and specialized occupational tasks involving heavy lifting and load carriage. Although all these attributes are relevant, individuals seeking to improve military performance should consider emphasizing strength, hypertrophy, and power production as primary training goals, as these traits appear vital to success in the new Army Combat Fitness Test introduced in 2020. This fundamental change in physical training may require an adjustment in body composition standards and methods of measurement as physique changes in modern male and female soldiers. Current research in the field of digital anthropometry (i.e., 3-D body scanning) has the potential to dramatically improve performance prediction algorithms and potentially could be used to inform training interventions. Similarly, height-adjusted body composition metrics such as fat-free mass index might serve to identify normal weight personnel with inadequate muscle mass, allowing for effective targeted nutritional and training interventions. This review provides an overview of the origin and evolution of current US military body composition standards in relation to military physical readiness, summarizes current evidence relating body composition parameters to aspects of physical performance, and discusses issues relevant to the emerging modern male and female warrior.

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New Concerns About Military Recruits with Metabolic Obesity but Normal Weight (“Skinny Fat”)

Cited by 13 publications

References 7 publications

<p>Characteristics of Physical Fitness and Cardiometabolic Risk in Chinese University Students with Normal-Weight Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study</p>

<p>Characteristics of Physical Fitness and Cardiometabolic Risk in Chinese University Students with Normal-Weight Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study</p>

Skeletal Muscle Quality: A Biomarker for Assessing Physical Performance Capabilities in Young Populations

Military Body Composition Standards and Physical Performance: Historical Perspectives and Future Directions

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