Body Composition Profile of Elite Chilean Military

Abstract

Electrical bioimpedance (BIA), being a non-invasive technique but with high precision, has become a valuable tool for determining body composition in the military, facilitating the control of the different variables associated with each specialty. The aim of the present study was to describe the body composition profile of elite military personnel at the end of a specialization course. Eleven military personnel between 22 and 29 years of age participated in the study. Body composition was assessed by BIA immediately after completion of a specialization course for elite military personnel. Assessments in the military on body composition variables through BIA showed: body weight of 84.3 ± 4.52 kg, height 1.78 ± 0.06 m, body mass index (BMI) 26.5 ± 1.09, adipose tissue of 13.7 ± 3.65 %, muscle tissue 49.5 ± 2.34 %, fat free mass 72.7 ± 5.23 kg and 53.2 ± 3.78 l of total body water. Conclusions: Elite military personnel presented high levels of fat free mass, muscle tissue and low levels of adipose tissue which favors the development of specialized military activities and decreases the risk of injury. The data collected here serve as a frame of reference for future studies.