Weight Loss Before Basic Combat Training and Musculoskeletal Injuries Among U.S. Army Trainees: The ARMI Study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To investigate the association between weight loss before joining the U.S. Army and rates of musculoskeletal injury (MSKI) during physically demanding Basic Combat Training (BCT).

Methods

Self-reported weight loss was collected on 3168 Army trainees who were followed through electronic medical records for diagnosis of any and region-specific MSKI. Cox regression models were stratified by sex and COVID-19 pandemic and adjusted for age, height, maximum-ever BMI, race/ethnicity, smoking history, prior physical activity, and history of injury.

Results

A total of 829 trainees (26.16%) reported losing weight to enter the Army with mean (SD) weight loss of 9.06 (8.62) kg, most commonly through exercise (83.72%). Trainees who lost weight to enter the Army had lower

SUBMITTER: Nguyen VT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12477104 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature