The Effect of Military Basic Training on Changes in Body Composition and

BMI on Cadets of The Faculty of Medicine, UNHAN RI Batch II

Student's Full Name, Supervisor's Full Name*, Supervisor's Full Name

Indonesian Defense University Jl.. .......
*Correspondence author, Email: pembimbing123@gmail.com

Abstract
Introduction. Body composition are an important component for maintaining general health and it is necessary
for Unhan cadets. The Military basic training or Military Basic Education program is present in an effort to form
an ideal posture for cadets in order to carrying out their duties and resilience to various challenges including
health threats. Purpose. This study aims to determine the results of the Military basic training program for

cadets of students of the Faculty of Medicine, Unhan batch II. The Assessment Indicators of the results of the
Military basic training program used in this study were body composition including fat percentage and muscle
mass percentage as well as Body Mass Index. Materials and Methods. A total of 47 male cadets of the Faculty
of Medicine, Unhan. Each subject was examined for body composition using a Bio-electrical Impedance
Analyzer (BIA). Result. The average BMI in the normal weight group before Military basic training

increased by 0.046 Kg/m² after Military basic training, while in the Overweight 1 group decreased by
1,184 Kg/m² after Military basic training, and in the Overweight 2 group decreased by 1,726 Kg/m² after
Military basic training. However, the body composition itself averaged muscle mass decreased by 15.56 % after
Military basic training, although the fat mass decreased by 3.255 %. Conclusion. The results of the Military
basic training program showed a decrease in cadet BMI in the Overweight 1 and Overweight 2 groups. The
decrease in BMI is achieved due to a decrease in the percent fat in all Individuals. Although the results showed
the success of the Military basic training program with a decrease in percent fat, from the processed data
showed a decrease in muscle mass percentage, this is different from the expected result which is an increase in
muscle mass percentage. Despite the decrease in muscle mass, the Military basic training program can increase
the value of muscle strength judging from the increased value of push ups. The decrease in fat percent is
followed by an increase in VO2 max value which indicates a causal relationship. This is in line with previous
studies linking percent fat to VO2 max values. So it can be concluded that the Military basic training program is
able to improve the performance of cadets.

Kata Key: Body Mass Index; percent of muscle mass; percent fat mass; Military Basic Education

Abstract
Introduction. Body composition is an important component for maintaining general health and of course this is
necessary for IDU cadets. The Military basic training program or Military Basic Education is present, one of
which is an effort to form the ideal body posture of cadets so that they have strength in carrying out their
duties and resilience to various challenges including health threats. Aim. This study aims to determine the

results of the Military basic training program for the second batch of Military Medical Faculty of Unhan cadets.
Indicators for the assessment of the results of the Military basic training program used in this study were body
composition including percent fat and percent muscle mass and Body Mass Index. Materials and Methods. A

total of 47 male cadets of Military Medical Faculty of Unhan. Each subject was checked for body composition

using a Bio-electrical Impedance Analyzer (BIA). Results. The average BMI in the normal weight group

before Dixarmil increased by 0.046 Kg/m² after Dixarmil, while in the Overweight 1 group it
decreased by 1.184 Kg/m² after Dixarmil, and in the Overweight 2 group, it decreased by 1,726 Kg/m² after
Dixarmil. However, the body composition itself, on average, decreased by 15.56 % after military education and
training, although the percentage of fat mass decreased by 3.255%. Conclusion. The results of the Military
basic training program showed a decrease in cadet BMI in the Overweight 1 and Overweight 2 groups. The
reduction in BMI was achieved due to a decrease in percent fat in all individuals. Even though the results show
the success of the Military basic training program with a decrease in fat percent, the data processed shows a
decrease in muscle mass, where what is expected is an increase in muscle mass. Even though there is a
decrease in muscle mass, the Military basic training program can increase the value of muscle strength seen
from the increase in the value of pus- ups. The decrease in fat percentage was followed by an increase in the
VO2 max value which indicates a causal relationship. This is in line with previous research which linked percent
fat to VO2 max values. So it can be concluded that the Military basic training program was able to improve the
performance of cadets.

Keywords: Body Mass Index; percent of muscle mass; percent fat mass; Military Basic Education

1. Introduction
According to WHO, obesity (BMI/BMI >25 kg/m2) is experienced by more than one-third of the world's
population. Since 1975, obesity has tripled and in 2016 it is estimated that around 39% of people aged about
18 years and over are obese. This can interfere with health and increase risks such as hypertension, diabetes
mellitus, dyslipidemia, etc. In Indonesia itself, obesity is more experienced by women than men, and this is
one of the largest causes of death in Indonesia. (1) (2) (3)

Military basic training stands for Basic Military Education which in English is Military Basic Training.
Military basic training is a form of activity carried out by the Cadets of UNHAN RI at the beginning of entering
education. These activities include Military basic training such as shooting, sports, swimming, running, military
defense, etc. Studies show that obesity is linked to factors such as age, gender, race, smoking, physical
activity, stress, and sleep duration. The cadets who carry out this Military basic training activity are a group of
teenagers aged 18-20 years who are characterized as having 24-hour activities continuously within a period of
2 months. They tend to experience changes in weight as well as body composition during their education.

Similar Military basic training programs have been conducted at the Hellenic Naval Academy and the
United States Military Academy (USMA) with basic military training programs (BMT). The BMT period was a
 sudden change in the habits of individual cadets at the Hellenic Naval Academy and the USMA. The basic
military training environment is one example of a population focused on fitness and training. (5) By
performing physical activity during certain circumstances in a minimum of 7 weeks of training to 10 weeks of
training, cadets improve their ability to perform at the same level as soldiers in regular units throughout the
army. In addition, BMT also has an effect on improving body composition, such as the percentage of body fat
(%BF) and lean body mass (BM). (4) Physical activity is classified into aerobic exercise, muscle strength, and
endurance. Examples of aerobic exercise are running, running and marching. Strength and endurance training
includes activities such as gymnastics, sit-ups, and push-ups. Recruits also participate in activities such as
rappelling, obstacles, long-standing formation, and other physically demanding activities. (6) As evidence,
cadets at USMA have some activities walking about 12 miles (19.2 km) with equipment >35lb (15.88kg); walk
on several days of the week; and passed a physical fitness test consisting of push-ups, sit-ups, and a 2-mile
(3.2 km) run in just 7 weeks. (5)

Based on this research, it is true that training under certain conditions in basic military training
improves the physical fitness and body composition of cadets. Cadets of the Greek Navy and Cadets of the
Indonesian Defense University showed a significant decrease in BMI (Body Mass Index). In the Greek Navy
cadets, BMI decreased by 3.0% in men while BMI cadets at the Indonesian Defense University decreased by
1,726 Kg/m2 in obesity group 2, 1,184 Kg/m2 in obesity group 1, and increased by 0.046 Kg/m2 in the normal
body group. (5)

This study aims to analyze changes in Body Mass Index (BMI / BMI), body fat composition and muscle
mass before and after undergoing Military basic training with a high level of activity for 2 months. our main
conclusion is that the BMI/BMI from the original less or more than the normal limit will be normal or the ideal
BMI, the body fat composition decreases and the muscle mass increases after undergoing Military basic
training.

2. Method
This type of research is analytical quantitative research using experimental methods and cluster
random sampling. The research design was chosen analytically because it wanted to look for the influence of

Military basic training interventions reflected in post-intervention and pre-intervention comparisons. This

study used a cluster random sampling technique because of the 4 groups of faculties taken only the Faculty
of Medicine due to operational licensing problems.

The purpose of this study was to obtain clear information on whether Military basic training had an
effect on changes in body composition and BMI in cadets of the Faculty of Medicine cohort 2 students. The
Military basic training referred to above is basic military education conducted for 2 months at the Military
Academy, Magelang. In those 2 months, the cadets of the Faculty of Medicine will daily carry out activities such
as running, morning exercises, studying in class, and marching line activities. In addition, once in two months,
cadets of the Faculty of Medicine will conduct a long march of approximately 10 km. Cadets of the Faculty of
Medicine will daily do breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In addition, another goal is to be able to help academics
and the general public to be able to adjust physical activity that can optimize the level of physical fitness and is
expected to be a guideline, especially for Defense University to be able to adjust the Military basic training

pattern so that cadets can get maximum physical fitness training results. The study was conducted in June
2021 and August 2021.

The source of data in this study is cadets of the Faculty of Medicine Unhan cohort 2 with several
variables taken.

1. Free variables = Age, gender, height, and weight.

2. Bound variables = Body mass index, % body fat, and muscle mass.

3. Control variables = Mean, deviation deviation, maximum value, and minimum value.

The data collection technique in this study is that the author is directly involved in the subject of the study so
that valid data is obtained. The method used to obtain data is a quantitative method with anthropometric data
retrieval. Anthropometry itself consists of four points, namely, body mass index, pulse speed, muscle strength
and muscle endurance, and flexibility.

A. Body Mass Index

In BMI data collection, the tools used are scales and height measuring instruments.

B. Body composition

In body composition data collection, the tool used is InBody 370

3. Results and Discussion

3.1 Results

The results showed that participants were dominated by the age of 17-18 years where around 80.8% of
the total participants or a total of 43 of the total 47 participants had a normal body mass index before
undergoing Military basic training. The increase in body mass index only occurred in the age group under 17
years, which was an average of 0.83 Kg / m², while the rest decreased. The decrease in body mass index in the
age group over 19 years is higher than the age group of 17-18 years, which is an average of 0.27Kg/m². When
viewed on the percent component of muscle mass, all groups experienced a decrease, and the highest
decrease was in the under-17 age group, which was -19%. In the percent fat component of all age groups
decreased, and the decrease was highest in the 17-18 year group which was 3.62%. When viewed from the
percent body fat category, all participants before Military basic training if averaged had body fat of 16.87% and
after Military basic training had an average body fat of 13%.
 Table 1. Changes in Body Mass, Muscle Mass, and Fat Mass Indices in Age Groups

Based on the weight grouping before Military basic training, participants were dominated by Normal body
weight, which was 91.4% of the total participants. On examination, no participants were found in the
underweight group. The Body Mass Index of the normal group has increased albeit slightly, from 21.33 to
21.38, but still falls into the normal category of Asian standards. Body Mass Index for overweight groups
decreased. Overweight 1 decreased from 25.09 to 23.90, and Overweight 2 decreased from 27.40 to 25.67.
Overall, BMI decreased from 21.70 to 21.63. Overall, from each age group, all experienced a decline in muscle
mass composition and fat composition.

Table 2. Changes in BMI in the BMI Group before intervention

Interventions in the form of the Military basic training program on average succeeded in improving the
weight of Cadets for the better. A significant change exists in the age group of 17-18 years, where there is an
improvement from 2 people experiencing overweight 1 and 1 person experiencing overweight 2 to only 1
person overweight 1 and the rest becoming normal.

Table 3. Comparison of Body Mass Index before and after intervention in age groups

Based on general characteristics, participants were predominantly from non-semi-military high schools
or equivalent by 65.96%, from semi-military high schools by 23.4% and from universities by 10.6%.
Furthermore, the majority of participants have never smoked where only 17% of participants have smoked and
have quit, until now no one has smoked anymore. The subjective health status of participants was classified
according to 5 points of the Likert scale: very good, good, normal, bad, and very bad. Our "very good" and
"good" responses merge into "good", and our "bad" and "very bad" responses merge into "bad". Furthermore,
the subjective health status of participants was only divided into good and normal, this was because no one
gave a "bad" response.
 Participants generally fill in their subjective health status is good at 60%, and the rest is normal. The
duration of strength training is used as a separate variable and is classified into none, 1-2 times per week, and
≥3 times per week. Participants were dominated ≥3 times per week by 49%, and 44.7% did strength training 1-2
times per week and the rest were absent. The duration of sleep is divided into three categories: <6 hours, 6-7
hours, and ≥8 hours per day. Participants were dominated by 6-7 hours per day by 51%, while 29.8% had a
sleep duration of <6 hours and the rest had a sleep duration of ≥ 8 hours per day. Sleep disorders are assessed
according to three items, namely having difficulty sleeping, difficulty staying asleep and lack of sleep due to
waking up too early, furthermore, sleep disorders are only grouped into having sleep disorders and not having
sleep disorders. Participants generally did not have a sleep disorder of 80.8% and the rest had a sleep disorder.

In the education history group, the highest decrease in fat percent was in the semi-military high school
group, which on average had a decrease in fat percent by 3.6%. Furthermore, the highest increase in body mass
index was in the group of participants with a previous history of higher education of 10.6% and the highest
decrease in body mass index was in the non-semi-military high school group with a decrease of 0.1%. The
highest percent decrease in muscle mass was in the non-semi-military high school group with a decrease of
16.7%.

In the smoking history group, the highest decrease in fat percent was in the group that had stopped
smoking, which was a decrease of 3.39%. The decrease in body mass index was in the group of never smoking
with a decrease of 0.1% while in the group that had stopped smoking experienced an increase of 0.07%. The
highest percent decrease in muscle mass was in the smoking cessation group with a decrease of 16.6%.

In the subjective health status group prior to the Military basic training program, the highest percent
decrease in fat was in the "good" group with a decrease of 3.3%, and the highest decrease in body mass index
was in the "normal" group with a decrease of 0.1%. The highest percent decrease in muscle mass was in the
"good" group with a decrease of 15.7%.

In the strength training duration group per week before undergoing the Military basic training
program, the highest fat percent reduction was in the ≥3 times group with a decrease of 3.4%. The highest
decrease in body mass index was in the ≥3 times group with a decrease of 0.09%. The highest percent decrease
in muscle mass was also in the ≥3 times group with a decrease of 15.8%. It can be concluded from the three
groups of strength training duration, weight percent reduction, body mass index, and muscle mass percent all
the highest there is a group of ≥3 times per week.

In the group of sleep duration per day before undergoing the Military basic training program, the
highest decrease in fat percent was in the ≥8-hour group with a decrease of 4%. The highest decrease in body
mass index was in the ≥8-hour group with a decrease of 0.3%, while in the <6-hour group there was an increase
in body mass index by 0.2%. The highest percent decrease in muscle masssa was in the <6-hour group with a
decrease of 16.8%.
 In the sleep disorders group before undergoing the Military basic training program, the highest
decrease in fat percent was in the group of having sleep disorders with a decrease of 4.9%. The decrease in
body mass index was in the group with sleep disorders with a decrease of 0.7% while in the group that did not
have sleep disorders there was an increase of 0.07%. The highest percent decrease in muscle mass was in the
group that had no sleep disorders with a decrease of 16.2%.

Table 4. Changes in Body Mass, Muscle Mass, and Fat Mass Indexes in General Characteristic Groups

Table 5. Changes in VO2 max

There is a significant difference in vo2 max after military basic training. The change was 8,209 ml/kg/min.
one participant became an exclusion criterion because he was sick

3.2 Discussion

When we investigated the participants' general characteristic factors, we found that age, previous
educational history, smoking history, subjective health status, exercise of force, were all significantly associated
with a decrease or increase in body fat percent. College cadets ages 17-18 are more likely to improve posture
by reducing body fat percent compared to those < 17, and age >19. This is contrary to previous studies
 involving adolescents and adults, in this study it was shown that the increase in BMI is inversely proportional to
the increase in age. Furthermore, participants with a history of semi-military high school education were more
successful in reducing body fat percent than those who graduated from regular high school and from college.
Percent body fat is more likely to decrease in those who actively do strength training before Military basic
training or in groups ≥3 times per week. Percent of body fat is more likely to decrease in those who feel their
health status is good than those who feel their health status is normal or normal. On the factors of sleep
duration and sleep disturbance there is a slight fallacy and raises the question, why is the improvement of
posture higher in those who have a sleep duration of ≥8 hours per day and in those who have sleep disorders.
This is due to changes in the participant's situation, where this classification is based on the conditions before
undergoing the Military basic training program. It is possible that the situation when undergoing Military basic
training is different from the condition before undergoing the Military basic training program. Therefore, more
research is needed on sleep duration factors and sleep disorders.

There was an improvement in body mass index status, especially in cadets whose initial status before
Military basic training was overweight. These positive effects are indeed thought to be the result of dietary
management and physical exercise characteristics of the military's basic educational life. In the decrease in
body mass index, it was found that muscle mass was also reduced, but more research is needed on the causes
of this decrease. The disadvantage of this study is that it does not record the diet that is a major contributor to
obesity. Second, military life could have changed the lifestyle of cadets. Third, this result cannot be generalized
because it is the result of basic military education in cadets, which is a new educational program in Indonesia
whose recruitment is not the same as physical requirements. Further studies are needed to look at the medical
history before and when active as a Student Cadet. The strength of this study is that this study is the first to
conduct research on the influence of Military basic training on Cadets, which is a newly existing educational
program in Indonesia. These preliminary data can be used as a reference data and comparison against
subsequent data, which will help to determine the standards of good military education exercises, as well as
the necessary health standards of cadets.

4. Conclusion
The Military basic training Program or Military Basic Education is a forum for forming an ideal posture
from the Second Batch of FKM UNHAN RI Cadets. Assessment of body mass index (BMI) with Bio-electrical
Impedance Analyzer (BIA) before and after the implementation of Military basic training is the way used to see
the changes to be assessed. Results from our study show that overall Military basic training has provided
changes in body mass index as well as body composition of cadets; Namely an increase in cadets who have a
normal body mass index, as well as a decrease in cadets who are in the overweight category. In the BMI in the
normal group, there was an increase of 0.05. with an initial value of 21.33 to 21.38. On the other hand, for the
overweight group, in the Overweight group 1 there was a decrease of 1.19 from the initial value of 25.90 to
23.90. Meanwhile, in the Overweight 2 group, it decreased by 1.73 from a value of 27.40 to 25.67. The total
BMI also decreased which was originally at 21.70, to 21.36. Therefore, judging from the results of his body
composition, there was a decrease in both percent fat and percent muscle mass. However, further study is
needed to determine the cause of the decrease in percent muscle mass.

Acknowledgments (Optional)

We would like to express our gratitude to the Defense University, especially the Faculty of Military
Medicine, for guiding us and providing permits in the implementation of this research from data collection to
the formation of this paper. Not only that, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to our supervisor
dr. Zaini Kadhafi Saragih, Sp.KO, along with other supervisors Dr. dr. Herqutanto, M.P.H., M.A.R.S., Dr. Arif
Rachman, drg., S.H., M.H., M.M., M.Tr. Hanla., Sp.Pros., CIQnR., CIQaR, dr. Anisah, M.Pd.Ked, dr. Grace
Joselini Corlesa, M.M.R.S., Sp.KO, dr. Yaumi Faiza, Sp.N, M.Biomed, as well as all participants in this study,
namely Cadets of the Faculty of Military Medicine, Defense University of the Republic of Indonesia Batch
II.

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