Fitness, performance and anthropometric characteristics of 19,185 Canadian Forces personnel classified according to body mass index.

The Canadian Forces (CF), concerned with the possible adverse effects of obesity on military performance and image, recently adopted the body mass index (BMI) to monitor excess weight among its personnel. Subsequently, the records of 17,098 CF men (32.0 +/- 8 years) and 2,087 CF women (26.2 +/- 5 years) were examined. Approximately 50% of the men and 25% of the women had a BMI greater than 25 kg/m2, while 26% of the men and 12% of the women had a BMI greater than 27 kg/m2. Except for grip strength, both men and women in higher BMI zones typically demonstrated significantly lower fitness and performance scores than those in lower BMI zones. For men and women, increasing BMI was associated with progressive and significant increases in body weight, chest girth, waist girth, gluteal girth, thigh girth, waist-to-hip ratio, and waist-to-height ratio, and decreases in difference between chest-minus-waist girths. Waist girth increased proportionately more than other circumferences with increasing BMI, thus indicating a greater relative deposition of body fat in the abdominal region. In view of the relationship between high BMI and compromised fitness, appearance, and health observed in this population, the CF would benefit from continued educational and clinical efforts to reduce the prevalence of obesity. The BMI would serve as a useful epidemiologic standard to help monitor progress in these areas.