Aerobic fitness and body fat of young British males entering the army

Aerobic fitness and percent body fat were measured in a sample of 438 male Army recruits between the ages of 17 and 30 prior to the commencement of training. The sample came from all areas of England and Wales. Aerobic fitness, as represented by maximal oxygen uptake ( \(\dot V\) O₂ max), was predicted from the Astrand submaximal bicycle heart rate test. Body fat was predicted from four skinfold measurements. Total group means ±SD were: age, 19.5±2.5 years; \(\dot V\) O₂ max 41.7 ±8.3 ml/kg·min; and body fat, 14.5±4.8% of body weight. \(\dot V\) O₂ max varied with age, athletic participation and aptitude score. No relationship was found with occupation of parent, prior civilian occupation or smoking severity. When adjusted for methodological differences, \(\dot V\) O₂ max was slightly below similar Army entrants in Norway and the United States.