The aim of the work is to describe the change of nutritional status and the change of physical activities in soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic during the deployment on foreign missions in Afghanistan. As for anthropometric data, body weight, body mass index and the amount of visceral fat and muscle mass were monitored. In each monitored person the measurement was performed at least twice, the first one immediately after the beginning of the mission and the control one shortly before finishing the mission. Height was measured using a calibrated measuring device and body weight was weighed using a calibrated stand-on scale. BMI was calculated as BMI = weight / height². The amount of total body fat was measured using Tanita BC-543 analyzer. After comparing individual contingents, statistically significant seems to be the Third Contingent, where a decrease of total body fat and visceral fat was observed. Similarly, statistically significant was the Fifth Contingent, where a decrease of body weight and BMI was observed. In the five monitored groups, which were measured in the Field Hospital in Kabul in the course of all four seasons of the year, some almost statistically significant changes of body composition, meaning a decrease of anthropometric characteristics, were registered. Only minimal statistical changes were registered in average values of all measured military professionals (n=251).

Keywords: Armed Forces of the Czech Republic; Anthropometric parameters; Body Mass Index; Military Mission