Anthropometrics and Physical Performance in Swedish Home Guard Soldiers

Area of Science:

• Military Medicine
• Exercise Physiology
• Public Health

Background:

• The Swedish Home Guard (HG) is a large, volunteer reserve force performing physically demanding duties.
• Limited research exists on the physical fitness and health of reserve forces soldiers.
• This study establishes reference data for HG personnel and compares it to general and military populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish anthropometric and physical performance reference data for Swedish Home Guard (HG) soldiers.
• To compare HG personnel's fitness with the general Swedish population and other military cohorts.
• To identify predictors of aerobic fitness within the HG.

Main Methods:

• 920 HG soldiers were divided into High-Demand (HDG) and General-Demand (GDG) groups.
• Measurements included anthropometrics (BMI, waist circumference) and aerobic capacity (20-m Shuttle Run test for VO2peak).
• Statistical analyses included t-tests, χ2 tests, and multivariate regressions.

Main Results:

• Over two-thirds of HG soldiers were overweight or obese (19% obese), with higher prevalence in GDG.
• HDG soldiers were younger, used less medication, and had significantly higher aerobic fitness (VO2peak 46.6 vs. 42.6 mL/kg/min).
• Higher BMI, waist circumference, and medication use negatively predicted VO2peak; regular intense exercise positively predicted it.

Conclusions:

• HG soldiers generally possess adequate fitness, but excess body weight is a concern.
• Personnel in high-demand units exhibit superior fitness and healthier lifestyles.
• Aerobic fitness is linked to body composition, medication use, and exercise habits, emphasizing the importance of regular intense physical activity for operational readiness.