Download PDF
Int J Sports Med 2009; 30(5): 348-353
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1105942
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

DEXA Body Composition Changes Among 140 Conscripts

V. M. Mattila 1 , K. Tallroth 2 , M. Marttinen 2 , O. Ohrankammen 3 , H. Pihlajamaki 1
  • 1Centre for Military Medicine, Lahti and Helsinki, Finland
  • 2Department of Radiology, ORTON Orthopaedic Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
  • 3Personnel Division of Defence Command, Finnish Defence Forces, Finland
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision October 6, 2008

Publication Date:
19 March 2009 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine changes in body composition and physical fitness during military service. A prospective cohort study of 140 healthy male conscripts was conducted. We examined subject characteristics, aerobic performance and muscle strength, and assessed body composition using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) three times. Conscripts’ mean baseline weight (79.5 kg) decreased by 2 kg during the first 3 months, but increased by 0.9 kg during the second 3-month period (p<0.001). Fat mass measured by DEXA decreased by 3.2 kg during the first but increased by 0.8 kg during the second 3-month period (p<0.001). Throughout the 6-month study, an increase was seen in distance of 12-min run test (from 2 380 m to 2 530 m; p<0.001), and muscle strength score (from 6.5 to 9.5 p<0.001). Finnish military training seems to have beneficial effects on physical fitness. However, considering the relatively modest changes in body fat and physical fitness seen in conscripts with average BMIs at baseline, design of diverse training programmes for the varying baseline BMI levels are warranted to improve the physical fitness results.

Key words

dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) - body mass index - fat mass - military personnel - physical fitness

References

  • 1 Chan GM. Performance of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in evaluating bone, lean body mass, and fat in pediatric subjects.  J Bone Miner Res. 1992;  7 369-374
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Cooper KH. A means of assessing maximal oxygen intake. Correlation between field and treadmill testing.  JAMA. 1968;  203 201-204
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Cooper KH. Testing and developing cardiovascular fitness within the United States Air Force.  J Occup Med. 1968;  10 636-639
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Faff J, Korneta K. Changes in aerobic and anaerobic fitness in the Polish army paratroopers during their military service.  Aviat Space Environ Med. 2000;  71 920-924
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Haarbo J, Gotfredsen A, Hassager C, Christiansen C. Validation of body composition by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).  Clin Physiol. 1991;  11 331-341
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Liesinen K, Hyppönen H, Kalmari K, Santtila M, Pimiä M, Leskinen A. The Handbook of Finnish Conscript (in Finnish). Helsinki: The Finnish Defence Forces 2003
  • 7 Kautiainen S, Rimpela A, Vikat A, Virtanen SM. Secular trends in overweight and obesity among Finnish adolescents in 1977-1999.  Int J Obes. 2002;  26 544-552
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Kiebzak GM, Leamy LJ, Pierson LM, Nord RH, Zhang ZY. Measurement precision of body composition variables using the lunar DPX-L densitometer.  J Clin Densitom. 2000;  3 35-41
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Lee L, Kumar S, Leong LC. The impact of five-month basic military training on the body weight and body fat of 197 moderately to severely obese Singaporean males aged 17–19 years.  Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1994;  18 105-109
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Lim CL, Lee LK. The effects of 20 weeks basic military training program on body composition, VO2max and aerobic fitness of obese recruits.  J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 1994;  34 271-278
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Louis O, Verlinde S, Thomas M, Schepper J De. Between-centre variability versus variability over time in DXA whole body measure-ments evaluated using a whole body phantom.  Eur J Radiol. 2006;  58 431-434
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Mattila VM, Tallroth K, Marttinen M, Pihlajamaki H. Body composition by DEXA and its association with physical fitness in 140 conscripts.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007;  39 2242-2247
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Mazess RB, Barden HS, Bisek JP, Hanson J. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for total-body and regional bone-mineral and soft-tissue composition.  Am J Clin Nutr. 1990;  51 1106-1112
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Santtila M, Kyrolainen H, Vasankari T, Palvalin K, Hakkinen A, Hakkinen K. Physical fitness profiles in young Finnish men during the years 1975–2004.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2006;  38 1990-1994
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Svendsen OL, Haarbo J, Hassager C, Christriansen C. Accuracy of measurements of total-body soft-tissue composition by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in vivo.  Basic Life Sci. 1993;  60 381-383
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Svendsen OL, Haarbo J, Heitmann BL, Gotfredsen A, Christiansen C. Measurement of body fat in elderly subjects by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, bioelectrical impedance, and anthropometry.  Am J Clin Nutr. 1991;  53 1117-1123
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Williams AG. Effects of basic training in the British Army on regular and reserve army personnel.  J Strength Cond Res. 2005;  19 254-259
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar

Correspondence

V. M. MattilaMD, PhD 

Research Unit

Centre for Military Medicine

Tommilanraitti 1a

36270 Kangasala

Finland

Phone: +35/840/582 13 56

Fax: +35/891/812 58 27

Email: ville.mattila@uta.fi

      >