Impact of body composition on physical fitness components in the Mexican Navy: Is overweight an issue?

Abstract

Overweight and inadequate physical fitness are critical variables that impact directly on the health, wellbeing of service members and military readiness, characteristics required to overcome dangerous situations during sea rescues and in the first line of combat in the Mexican Navy. Here we determined the impact of body composition (BC) on physical fitness components (PFC) [cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscle strength-resistance (MSR)] of 110 marines, rescue swimmers, and divers of the Mexican Navy classified as overweight. We found significant differences in medians of BC and PFC among groups (p < 0.001). The WHO and military BMI showed 59 (54%) and 16 (15%) individuals as overweight, respectively. All groups showed CRF adequate for their age, but only 26 (51%) and 14 (24%) classified as normal and overweight (WHO), respectively, had adequate CFR (METs ˃12) (p = 0.003) for physical demands of military tasks. BMI in overweight at expenses of high BFP, without cardiovascular risk represents an operational task advantage that will lead to reach the balance between physical fitness, health, and military readiness.

Keywords

• overweigh
• body mass index
• cardiorespiratory fitness
• body composition
• military