Changes in food intake and body weight associated with basic combat training.

Full Abstract

This research project evaluated changes in food selections, food intake, and body weight during 8 weeks of basic combat training (BCT). During the first week of BCT, 139 soldiers from two companies volunteered for participation in the study. In the eighth week of BCT, 92 soldiers were available for retesting. A digital photography method for measuring food selections and food intake was developed for this study. Fruit intake of soldiers was very low at the beginning and end of BCT. Food intake for grains and milk products was low during the first week of BCT but improved by the end of BCT. Average body weight decreased during the 8 weeks of BCT, but heavier soldiers tended to lose weight and thinner soldiers tended to gain weight. These findings suggest that the overall effect of BCT was a trend toward improvement of healthy eating and healthy body weight.

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Author information

Author/s: Williamson, Donald A (DA); Martin, Pamela Davis (PD); Allen, H Raymond (HR); Most, Marlene M (MM); Alfonso, Anthony J (AJ); Thomas, Vicky (V); Ryan, Donna H (DH);

Affiliation: Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 64000 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Journal: Military medicine (Mil Med), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Mar; vol 167 (issue 3) : pp 248-53

Dates: Created 2002/03/20; Completed 2002/04/04; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 11901576, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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