Correlation Between Voluntary Fluid Intake and Sweat Rate of Air Force ROTC Cadets During Outdoor Exercise

Authors

Michael M. Rodriguez, California State University, San BernardinoFollow
Alma I. Martinez, Loma Linda UniversityFollow
Haydin C. Pazdur, California State University, San BernardinoFollow
Angela Haven A. Barandino, California State University, San BernardinoFollow
Daniela Ferreras, California State University, San BernardinoFollow
Theodore M. Locey, California State University, San BernardinoFollow
Christopher R. Hill, California State University, San BernardinoFollow
April Karlinsky, California State University, San BernardinoFollow
Jason Ng, California State University, San BernardinoFollow

Abstract

The Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is a training program that gives individuals the opportunity to become leaders in and outside of the classroom while they prepare for their careers as officers in the United States Air Force or Space Force. This is a unique group of college students training to become tactical operators, which involves participating in regular group physical training. To optimize training, cadets should incorporate proper hydration strategies. Ideally, fluid intake volume should match sweat losses, however ROTC cadets’ hydration practices remain unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between voluntary fluid intake and whole-body sweat rate (WBSR) of Air Force ROTC cadets during a typical outdoor exercise session to determine whether their hydration behaviors are appropriate. METHODS: Five men and three women (mean ± SD; 22 ± 3 y, 168.3 ± 4.7 cm, 68.2 ± 9.5 kg) completed their regular 60-min training session in outdoor conditions. Nude body mass was measured before and after exercise to determine whole-body sweat rate. Water bottles were made readily available in the exercise area, and cadets drank voluntarily. Fluid intake was quantified as the difference in the water bottle weight before and after exercise. RESULTS: Mean voluntary fluid replenishment (309.5 ± 208.9 mL) during the 60-min exercise bout did not match mean sweat rate (407.5 ± 89.2 mL/h). There was no correlation between fluid intake volume and whole-body sweat rate (r = 0.234, p = 0.576). CONCLUSION: When cadets were drinking voluntarily, this was not sufficient to replace sweat loss during the exercise bout, and there was no relationship between how much they drank and how much they sweated. This study lends support to previous reports that voluntary fluid intake is insufficient to replace sweat losses. Moreover, there might be other mechanisms that influence voluntary fluid ingestion other than whole-body sweat rate. While this population is undergoing physical training for a unique purpose, this study shows that their drinking behaviors are not different from other types of exercisers.

Recommended Citation

Rodriguez, Michael M.; Martinez, Alma I.; Pazdur, Haydin C.; Barandino, Angela Haven A.; Ferreras, Daniela; Locey, Theodore M.; Hill, Christopher R.; Karlinsky, April; and Ng, Jason (2024) "Correlation Between Voluntary Fluid Intake and Sweat Rate of Air Force ROTC Cadets During Outdoor Exercise," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 14: Iss. 4, Article 11.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol14/iss4/11