Introduction:

The military preparation in its different edges is one of the hardest processes that live the subjects that develop work in favor of the defense and maintenance of the peace of the nations. It is expected that this preparation will progressively impact the physical condition and body composition of the soldiers in order to contribute to a better performance in their daily tasks.

Objective:

To compare the anthropometric profile of Chilean military men in a situation of conscripted soldiers and permanent staff.

Methods:

83 male military subjects aged between 18.91 ± 1.76 and 51.19 ± 7.96 years were evaluated, body mass index, body composition and somatotype were estimated.

Results:

Higher values ​​of body mass index (28.64 ± 3.56), muscle tissue 37.57 ± 5.02 kg and adipose tissue (24.95 ± 7.88 kg) were found in permanent staff and lower values ​​in conscripted soldiers (22.53 ± 2.39) p < 0.000 muscle tissue (33.85 ± 4.11 kg), adipose tissue (18.12 ± 5.01) p < 0.024. In the somatotype components, similarly, there were significant differences (p <0.000) in endomorphy, mesomorphy and ectomorphy.

Conclusion:

The military subjects present significant differences in terms of body composition, somatotype and weight status according to their contractual situation. The use of the body mass index would be complex to use in military subjects, since these can be erroneously classified in the categories established for the body mass index.

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