Mean values for BMI, stature, FFMI and %BF compared across four age categories of female and male Army recruits at entry to BCT
| Age category | P value for trend | ||||
| 17–<21 | 21–<25 | 25–<29 | 29+ | ||
| Women (n) | 339 | 98 | 42 | 26 | |
| Height (cm) | 162±6 | 162±7 | 162±7 | 160±7 | 0.22 |
| Mass (kg) | 61.4±8.3*† | 64.8±9.5‡ | 66.2±9.2‡ | 64.4±8.4 | <0.01 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 23.5±2.7*†§ | 24.6±2.9‡ | 25.0±2.8‡ | 25.1±2.6‡ | <0.01 |
| FFMI (kg/m2) | 15.4±1.5*†§ | 15.9±1.6‡ | 16.5±1.7‡ | 16.5±1.6‡ | <0.01 |
| %BF | 31.9±5.3 | 33.0±4.8 | 32.0±4.5 | 32.3±6.7 | 0.33 |
| Men (n) | 568 | 244 | 84 | 68 | |
| Height (cm) | 176±7§ | 176±8§ | 176±7 | 179±7*‡ | <0.01 |
| Mass (kg) | 75.3±12.1*†§ | 79.1±13.6‡§ | 82.2±11.3‡ | 85.6±12.4*‡ | <0.01 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 24.4±3.5*†§ | 25.7±4.1‡ | 26.5±3.3‡ | 26.8±3.3‡ | <0.01 |
| FFMI (kg/m2) | 18.4±1.9*†§ | 18.9±2.2‡ | 19.3±1.9‡ | 19.6±1.7‡ | <0.01 |
| %BF | 22.0±6.1*†§ | 23.5±6.5‡ | 24.6±6.1‡ | 24.5±6.0‡ | <0.01 |
Mean±SD.
*Significantly different from age 21–<25, p<0.05.
†Significantly different from age 15–<29, p<0.05.
‡Significantly different from age 17–<21, p<0.05.
§Significantly different from age 29+, p<0.05.
BCT, basic combat training; %BF, per cent body fat; BMI, body mass index; FFMI, fat-free mass index.