FORT POLK, La. (Army New Service, Feb. 8, 2006) – Soldiers deployed to Afghanistan have lost weight and muscle mass while those serving in Iraq have reported gaining weight and losing their fitness edge, according to anecdotal evidence that has prompted an Army study.
Marilyn Sharp, an exercise scientist with the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, said while there have been no official tests yet to prove or disprove the reports, at least one Soldier has kept an informal record.
“One platoon sergeant actually measured his troops before and following a year in Afghanistan, so he’s got data, but it’s only on 15 people,” Sharp said. “You can’t say that’s a representative sample.
Even so, the informal tests sparked an interest in a formal two-phased study that could change the way the Army keeps its Soldiers in top fighting form so the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine and the Army Physical Fitness School started using two units from the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division to assess a program developed by the fitness school.
Weight change in theater may redefine ‘fit to fight’
Why not flag a fat soldier from recieving awards, combat badges and promotions; why not take a few stripes?
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