This book surveys the entire field of body composition as it relates to performance. It includes a clear definition of terminology and a discussion of the various methods for measuring body composition.


The authored papers represent a state-of-the-art review of this controversial field and address questions such as: What is a better measure of body composition—body fat or lean body mass? Does being overweight for one's height really affect performance?


The book also addresses the issue of physical appearance as it relates to body fatness and performance. It includes an in-depth discussion of many of the topics of interest to those involved in sports medicine and exercise physiology.

Table of Contents


FRONT MATTER
I Overview
1 Introduction and Background
2 Conclusions and Recommendations
II Invited Papers
3 Body Composition and Military Performance: Origins of the Army Standards
4 Body Composition in the Military Services: Standards and Methods
5 Effects of Experimental Alterations in Excess Weight on Physiological Responses to Exercise and Physical Performance
6 Army Data: Body Composition and Physical Capacity
7 The Relationship of Body Size and Composition to the Performance of Physically Demanding Military Tasks
8 New Approaches to Body Composition Evaluation and Some Relationships to Dynamic Muscular Strength
9 Associations Among Body Composition, Physical Fitness, and Injury in Men and Women Army Trainees
10 Body Composition, Morbidity, and Mortality
11 Critique of the Military's Approach to Body Composition Assessment and Evaluation
12 Body Composition and Performance in Relation to Environment
13 Sex Differences and Ethnic/Racial Differences in Body Size and Body Composition
III Committee Discussion Paper
14 Body Composition Measurement: Accuracy, Validity, and Comparability
Appendixes
Appendix A: Accession Standards for the Military Services
Appendix B: Retention Standards for the Military Services
Appendix C: Weight-for-Height Tables
Appendix D: Proposed Revisions to Accession (AR 40-501) and Retention (AR 600-9) Body Weight and Body Fat Standards
Appendix E: Recent Changes to the U.S. Army Standards
Appendix F: Biographical Sketches