regular physical activity as a means of increasing fitness, endurance and strength; managing weight; and reducing risk of musculoskeletal injury.

Additional research is needed to refine and standardize anthropometric equations for body fat prediction and to validate them against current four-compartment models. This research must be conducted with a population that is representative of active-duty women with respect to ethnic and age diversity.

In view of the relationship between skeletal muscle/FFM and strength, and recent developments in the ability to assess these parameters, research is recommended to develop an expedient method for the prediction of FFM using anthropometric measurements.

It is also recommended that programs designed to increase strength as well as those seeking to redesign certain tasks be pursued along with the development and validation of task-specific, gender-neutral strength tests for use in determining placement in military occupational specialties requiring moderate and heavy lifting. Task-specific training tests have been developed and validated for comparable jobs in the civilian sector. General and task-specific strength training should be incorporated into basic combat training, advanced training, and ongoing fitness programs to ensure that the maximum strength level requirements of each individual's MOS can be met.

Further research is recommended on the incidence and risk factors for stress fracture and other musculoskeletal injuries in active-duty women.

Should any part of the Military Recommended Dietary Allowances (MRDAs) be further adjusted for women? Should there be any intervention for active-duty women with respect to food provided, dietary supplementation, or education?

In view of current ongoing efforts by the Food and Nutrition Board to revise the Recommended Dietary Allowances upon which the MRDAs (AR 40-25, 1985) are based, the BCNH committee advises that revision of the MRDAs be deferred to a later time, and it has chosen to concentrate on several nutritional issues of importance to active-duty women.

While the MRDAs for calcium, folate, and iron appear to be adequate within normal balanced diet plans, that is, when full rations are consumed (3,600 kcal/d), the average woman cannot consume the equivalent of full rations. Moreover, she may not be able to consume the quantity of energy upon which the MRDAs are based, if she is to balance energy intake with expenditure.

Outcome data for the military weight management programs are currently unavailable. In addition, it is not possible at the present time to determine how individual sites administer their programs. Nevertheless, comparison of the programs as described in the regulations governing these programs with recent recommendations regarding methods for long-term weight loss and management suggest a number of disparities. In addition, evidence from self-report surveys suggests

Front Matter (R1-R16)

Executive Summary (1-24)

1 Introduction (25-32)

2 Body Composition (33-60)

3 Physical Fitness Policies and Programs (61-86)

4 Weight Management (87-108)

5 Nutritional Concerns of Military Women (109-126)

6 Pregnancy and Lactation and Postpartum Return-To-Duty Fitness (127-156)

7 Conclusions and Recommendations (157-170)

Appendixes (171-172)

A Workshop Summary, Agenda, Participants, and Abstracts (173-252)

B Practices and Policies Tables (253-262)

C Military Occupational Specialty Classification Tables (263-280)

D Search Strategy for Literature Review (281-284)

E Civilian Inquiry Letter and Table of Responses (285-290)

F Abbreviations (291-294)

G Bibliography (295-334)

H Biographical Sketches (335-338)

Index (339-352)