An Examination of Modifiable Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors and Fitness in Reserve Officers' Training Corps Cadets

The U.S. Army developed the Holistic Health and Fitness system and Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) to support the overall readiness of soldiers from a framework that assesses multiple domains of health. Although modifiable healthy lifestyle behaviors (MHLB)-diet, sleep, and physical activity (PA)-are presumed to influence ACFT performance, research on this relationship, particularly among Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) cadets, is limited. This study examines the relationship between MHLB and ACFT performance to understand their impact on fitness outcomes.

This cross-sectional study included 83 Army ROTC cadets from a single university. Participants completed 3 electronic surveys assessing dietary behaviors, sleep quality, and PA, and performed the ACFT. Anthropometric data, including height, mass, and body composition, were also collected. Nonparametric statistical tests were conducted to assess relationships between MHLB and ACFT performance.

Descriptive statistics revealed that 55.4% of cadets had poor sleep quality, and 9.6% exhibited poor dietary habits. All but 2 cadets passed the ACFT. No significant correlations were found between MHLB and ACFT scores, either across the entire sample or within gender and military science class subgroups.

The absence of significant correlations between MHLB and ACFT performance challenges common assumptions and highlights the complexity of optimizing readiness in military populations. Although most cadets reported adequate PA levels and acceptable diet quality, the prevalence of poor sleep quality highlights an area for targeted intervention. These results demonstrate the value of holistic health assessments to support the overall well-being and readiness of ROTC populations.