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BACKGROUND: This research aimed to analyze the body composition (BC) of different military units in the Spanish Armed Forces.METHODS: We studied 179 male aircrew members (86 airplane pilots, 15 helicopter pilots and 78 transport aircrew) using bioimpedance.RESULTS: Airplane pilots (AP) had higher means than transport aircrew (TA) in height (179.56 cm vs. 173.90 cm), total body water (46.72 L vs. 42.96 L), intracellular body water (29.45 L vs. 26.89 L), extracellular body water (17.27 L vs. 16.07 L), proteins (12.72 kg vs.11.63 kg), minerals (4.50 kg vs. 4.15 kg), soft lean mass (60.21 kg vs. 55.29 kg), fat free mass (63.95 kg vs. 58.74 kg), skeletal muscle mass (36.41 kg vs. 33.07 kg), and lower means in body mass index (24.01 kg vs. 25.49 kg), body fat mass (BFM) (13.53 kg vs. 18.81 kg) and percentage of body fat (PBF) (16.83 kg vs. 23.79 kg). Helicopter pilots also had significantly lower means in BFM (13.21 kg vs. 18.81 kg) and PBF (17.11 kg vs. 18.81 kg) than TA.DISCUSSION: The different types of activity between AP (active coping with G forces) and TA (inactive) during operational flights negatively affects the body composition of TA. These results suggest differences in aircrews training and job tasks. Specific training is needed for each unit: it should be individualized, prevent injuries, and be directed by qualified personnel.

The impact of hysterectomy without oophorectomy and with no malignant purpose on body composition and postmenopausal weight gain was tested in 184 Viennese females aged between 47 and 57 years (mean 52·9). Hysterectomized women were significantly heavier than those who experienced a spontaneous menopause (controls). The amount of fat tissue, especially in the abdominal region, was significantly higher in hysterectomized women. Furthermore, they were reported to have experienced a significantly higher weight gain since menopause (9·1 versus 6·0 kg). No significant differences in bone mass were found. Psychological stress factors and hormonal changes following hysterectomy are discussed as possible causes of these differences.

Physical exercise is recommended to maintain the muscular mass in elderlies (Singh, 2002). Among the different types of exercise programs, there is the multicomponent training (Carvalho et al., 2010). The multicomponent training program allows the subjects to improve their physical condition (Strength, resistance, flexibility and balance) (Carvalho et al., 2009). However, there is no consensus about the influence of multicomponent training in body composition. Thus, the aim of this study was to access the multicomponent training effect in elderly's body composition. The sample of this study was composed of forty nine 64.39 (± 6.33) year-old elderlies. Among them, 11 were 67.45 (± 4.93) year-old males and 38 were 63.50 (± 7.47) year-old females. All procedures carried out in this research were in accordance to the Declaration of Helsinki. A multicomponent training program was applied with the Carvalho et al, (2009). The program took 8 months and the training frequency was three times per week. The elderly's body composition were assessed with bio-impedance (Tanita, BC-545). The T-test allowed to assess the differences between the pre and post training program in the body composition. The tests were performed with a significant level of 5%. A multicomponent training program in elderlies seems to influence the body composition. The total body mass decreased between the two moments. The bone mineral mass and body water percentage had a significant increase between the two moments. Even more, all the variables improved between the two moments. ; This project was supported by the National Funds through FCT - Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (UID/DTP/0445/2013) and the European Fund for regional development (FEDER? allocated by European Union through the COMPETE 2020 Programme (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006969) ; info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

SummaryThe measurement of short-term changes in maternal body composition during the post-partum period under field conditions poses many problems: (1) body composition techniques depend on the constancy of the proportions of components or their physical properties and are less suitable for measuring changes; (2) many of the techniques require expensive, technically sophisticated apparatus that is inappropriate to field conditions in many countries; (3) changes in body composition affect some areas of the body more than others so regional as well as whole body approaches are required. The measurements of body weight, triceps and subscapular skinfold thicknesses and upper arm circumference are essential measurements. These can be supplemented with further skinfold thicknesses and circumferences, and possibly body density and body water measurements. There is little to be gained by transforming anthropometric variables into whole body composition indices in these circumstances.

The military are selected on the basis of physical standards and are regularly involved in strong physical activities, also related to particular sports training. The aims of the study were to analyze the effect of a 7-month military training program on body composition variables and the suitability of specific 'bioelectrical impedance vector analysis' (spBIVA), compared to DXA, to detect the changes in body composition. A sample of 270 male Brazilian cadets (19.1 ± 1.1 years), composed of a group practicing military physical training routine only (MT = 155) and a group involved in a specific sport training (SMT = 115), were measured by body composition assessments (evaluated by means of DXA and spBIVA) at the beginning and the end of the military routine year. The effect of training on body composition was similar in SMT and MT groups, with an increase in LST. DXA and spBIVA were correlated, with specific resistance (Rsp) and reactance (Xcsp) positively related to fat mass (FM), FM%, LST, and lean soft tissue index (LSTI), and phase angle positively related to LST and LSTI. Body composition variations due to physical training were recognized by spBIVA: the increase in muscle mass was indicated by the phase angle and Xcsp increase, and the stability of FM% was consistent with the unchanged values of Rsp. Military training produced an increase in muscle mass, but no change in FM%, independently of the sample characteristics at baseline and the practice of additional sports. SpBIVA is a suitable technique for the assessment of body composition in military people.