PubMed · 1996 · 11 citations · 0 references
Among U.S. sailors, taller height was correlated with surpassing height-based weight limits, where taller individuals were allowed to weigh more and still meet professional weight standards. Results underscore that current height-weight accountability standards may distort behavior, leading servicemembers to manipulate measurements rather than improve job-relevant fitness. Instead, greater reliance on fitness-based measures of health, such as fitness tests, may hold promise for upholding servicemember readiness. Our results highlight that when stakes are attached to a measure, individuals may work to raise their performance using strategies that are misaligned with the policy intent.