Assessment of Male Anthropometric Trends and the Effects on Thermal Regulatory Models
Abstract
This study investigated temporal differences in body dimensions (height, weight, percent body fat (%BF)) of U.S. Army male soldiers by comparing 2004 and 1988 databases. Identified anthropometric somatotypes were subsequently incorporated in a thermal regulatory model to examine simulated individual differences in core temperature (Tcr) to heat stress (35 C/50%rh, ~550W work rate, rest for 30min and walk for 70 min). A significant increase in body weight (2.4kg) was observed between the 2004 and 1988 data (p < 0.05, after Bonferroni correction). However, changes in height and circumference measurements for %BF were insignificant, with the magnitude of the changes not exceeding inter-observer errors. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that anthropometric distributions did not differ between the two databases and identified five primary somatotypes: "tall-fat," "tall-lean," "average," "short-lean," and "short-fat." Within each database, anthropometric values differed among the somatotypes. However, simulated Tcr responses to heat stress in each somatotype were similar in the 2004 and 1988 populations. In conclusion, an increase in body weight was the primary change observed in the U.S. Army male soldiers. Temporal changes in somatotypes of soldiers over a 16 year period had minimal impact on simulated physiological response to heat stress using a thermal regulatory model.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA474523
Entities
People
- Gaston P. Bathalon
- Larry G. Berglund
- Miyo Yokota
Organizations
- United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine