Predictors of successful physical readiness testing under the new standard: OPNAV Instruction 6110.1F

A new physical readiness testing (PRT) instruction, OPNAV Instruction 6110.1F, specifying tougher standards compared with the previous standard was issued in May 2000. The purpose of this research was to describe differences in PRT results under the old and new standards, to describe body mass index (BMI) results, to compare BMI results with body composition assessment results, and to elucidate predictors of successful PRT results under the new standards. Using a retrospective cohort design, cross-sectional analysis was performed on data from 1,564 active duty subjects at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. Whereas, under the old standards, the distribution of PRT results was skewed toward high scores, the distribution of scores was normal under the new standards. BMI results demonstrated a problem with obesity in the cohort and correlated poorly with body composition assessment. Predictors of successful PRT were normal/underweight BMI, body composition within standards, officer rank, and age > or = 30 years.