Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Hydration Status in Air Force ROTC Cadets

Authors

Ivan P. Flores, California State University, San BernardinoFollow
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
Christopher R. Hill, California State University, San BernardinoFollow
April Karlinsky, California State University, San BeranrdinoFollow
Jason Ng, California State University, San BernardinoFollow

Abstract

The Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) program prepares young individuals for their future as officers in the United States Air Force. This is a unique population because these cadets are college students who must maintain physical fitness through regular group exercise training. Previous research has identified that proper hydration is important to optimize training sessions. However, it is unknown whether the body size of this population is connected to their hydration status before and after exercise. PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and hydration status and the differences between BMI classifications of AFROTC cadets. METHODS: Eighteen (13 male and 5 female) AFROTC cadets volunteered for this study (mean ± SD; age: 21.4 ± 3.2 y, height: 168.6 ± 6.3 cm, body mass: 67.3 ± 10.3 kg). Before training, height was measured with a stadiometer, and nude body mass was measured with an electronic scale. BMI was expressed as kg·m^-2. Hydration status was determined with analysis of urine specific gravity (USG) through a urine sample collected before and after exercise. RESULTS: There was no correlation between BMI and pre-exercise USG (r= -0.116, p= 0.646) and post-exercise USG (r= -0.224, p= 0.372). There was no difference in USG between normal and overweight cadets before exercise (normal weight USG: 1.024 ± 0.007, overweight USG: 1.022 ± 0.004; t(16) = 0.777, p = 0.448) and after exercise (normal weight USG: 1.021 ± 0.007, overweight USG: 1.018 ± 0.004; t(16) = 0.916, p = 0.373). CONCLUSION: There was no relationship between BMI and hydration status. There was also no difference in hydration status between normal and overweight cadets. The normal weight group remained above the 1.020 threshold, while the overweight group dropped below 1.020 suggesting their hydration status may have improved through voluntary fluid intake during exercise. Future research should examine the relationship between BMI and hydration status amongst other BMI categories (as our study excluded underweight & obese groups) and study the drinking behaviors of the differing groups.

Recommended Citation

Flores, Ivan P.; Rodriguez, Michael M.; Martinez, Alma I.; Pazdur, Haydin C.; Barandino, Angela Haven A.; Hill, Christopher R.; Karlinsky, April; and Ng, Jason (2024) "Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Hydration Status in Air Force ROTC Cadets," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 14: Iss. 4, Article 12.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol14/iss4/12