CORRELATION BETWEEN VOLUNTARY FLUID INTAKE AND SWEAT RATE OF AIR FORCE CADETS DURING OUTDOOR EXERCISE

Correlation Between Voluntary Fluid Intake and Sweat Rate of Air Force ROTC Cadets During Outdoor Exercise MICHAEL M. RODRIGUEZ1, ALMA I. MARTINEZ2, HAYDIN C. PAZDUR1, ANGELA HAVEN A. BARANDINO1, DANIELA E. FERRERAS1, THEODORE M. LOCEY1, CHRISTOPHER R. HILL1, APRIL KARLINSKY1, JASON NG1 1Human Performance Laboratory; Department of Kinesiology; California State University, San Bernardino; San Bernardino, CA2School of Allied Health Professions; Loma Linda University; Loma Linda, CA Category: Undergraduate Advisor / Mentor: Ng, Jason ([email protected]) ABSTRACT: The Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) provides training for individuals to become leaders while preparing for careers as officers in the U.S. Air Force or Space Force. This program involves a unique group of college students who engage in regular physical training to become tactical operators. Proper hydration is crucial to optimize this training, yet ROTC cadets’ hydration practices remain unclear. PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the relationship between voluntary fluid intake and whole-body sweat rate (WBSR) of Air Force ROTC cadets during a typical outdoor exercise session, to assess the adequacy of their hydration behaviors. METHODS: Eight cadets (five men and three women; mean ± SD: age 22 ± 3 years, height 168.3 ± 4.7 cm, weight 68.2 ± 9.5 kg) completed a 60-minute outdoor training session. Nude body mass was measured before and after exercise to determine WBSR. Water bottles were made available, and fluid intake was quantified by weighing the bottles before and after the session. RESULTS: Mean voluntary fluid intake during the exercise was 309.5 ± 208.9 mL, which did not match the mean sweat rate of 407.5 ± 89.2 mL/h. No significant correlation was found between fluid intake and sweat rate (r = 0.234, p = 0.576). CONCLUSION: The voluntary fluid intake by cadets was insufficient to replace sweat losses during exercise, and no relationship was observed between the volume consumed and sweat rate. This supports previous findings that voluntary hydration often fails to meet the demands of exercise. Other factors may influence fluid intake beyond sweat loss. This study indicates that ROTC cadets' hydration behaviors are similar to those of other exercisers.