Changes in aerobic fitness and body fat during army recruit training

Aerobic fitness and related indices were evaluated in 254 soldiers at the beginning and near the end of initial army recruit training. Aerobic fitness in terms of maximal aerobic power was preidcted from the Astrand-Ryhming submaximal heart rate bicycle test. Estimated VO2 max increased by 8%, 42.0--45.3 ml/kg . min. Accompanying this increase in aerobic capacity was a decline in body fat content without a change in body weight. It is concluded that army recruit training at the time of this study was effective in terms of increasing aerobic work capacity and reducing excess body fat.