Dietary Intakes From Ad Libitum Consumption of Canadian Armed Forces Field Rations Compared With Usual Home Dietary Intakes and Military Dietary Reference Intakes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mavra Ahmed ◽  
Iva Mandic ◽  
Wendy Lou ◽  
Len Goodman ◽  
Ira Jacobs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Military Personnel ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Dietary Reference Intake ◽  
Dietary Intakes ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces ◽  
Operational Readiness ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
At Home

ABSTRACT Introduction Diet has an impact on weight status, health, and physical performance. Assessing the usual at-home dietary intakes of military personnel can help ascertain their nutritional status before field training or operations. Preference for foods consumed on a routine basis can also impact the military’s preference for and consumption of field rations. Military personnel are limited by the inherent nature of the field rations and availability of calories and food types; and despite previous studies indicating a high acceptability of the field rations, it is unknown whether military personnel self-select the same number of calories when faced with a restricted list of field ration options as they would from their usual foods. Although field rations are intended to be nutritionally sufficient for standard military operations, there are limited data on the ad libitum intake of nutrients of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel from field rations in comparison to the military dietary reference intake (MDRI) recommendations, which establishes standards intended to meet the nutritional requirements of military personnel on duty. Thus, assessing the adequacy of their usual diets at home and longer-term sustenance on field rations in relation to MDRIs can provide insight on CAF personnel’s operational readiness. The objectives of this study were to describe and compare, in a convenience sample of CAF, their ad libitum nutrient intakes from the consumption of self-selected field rations at home with their usual home intakes and to compare both with MDRI recommendations. Materials and Methods Eighteen CAF participants weighed and recorded their dietary intake from the ad libitum consumption of field rations at home and their usual at-home diets. Both MDRIs and the Institute of Medicine’s dietary reference intake recommendations were used to assess the adequacy of intakes for each individual. Paired Student’s t-test or Wilcoxon-matched paired tests were used to compare nutrient intake levels between usual at-home diets and field rations consumed at home. Results Mean daily energy intakes were similar between ad libitum intakes from field rations (2,688 ± 619 kcal) and usual home diets (2,657 ± 580 kcal), although participants had significantly higher intakes of protein and fat from their home diets and higher intakes of carbohydrates from the field rations (P ≤ 0.05). Participants had less than the recommended intakes of some micronutrients (vitamins A and D, folate, calcium, magnesium, and potassium), from both their home diets and field rations, but adequate intakes of vitamin C and iron. Conclusions The results of this study showed no difference in energy intake between the consumption of field rations and home diets, with levels consistent with recommendations for individuals with average physical activity levels. The results also demonstrated less than the recommended intakes (in comparison with MDRIs) of some nutrients from both home diets and self-selected consumption of field rations, warranting further research into nutritional adequacy for operational readiness.

scholarly journals Relationship between general nutrition knowledge and diet quality in Australian military personnel

2016 ◽  
Vol 115 (8) ◽  
pp. 1489-1497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charina J. Kullen ◽  
Jamie-Lee Farrugia ◽  
Tania Prvan ◽  
Helen T. O’Connor
Keyword(s):  
Diet Quality ◽  
Military Personnel ◽  
Living Arrangement ◽  
Nutrition Knowledge ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
Dietary Intakes ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Balanced Diet ◽  
Operational Readiness ◽  
Median Test

AbstractA balanced diet informed by sound nutrition knowledge is key for operational readiness and the health of military personnel. Unfortunately, research suggests that military personnel have inadequate dietary intakes. This study assessed general nutrition knowledge, diet quality and their association in Australian military personnel. A convenience sample of male military personnel (n 211) including Army soldiers and officers completed a validated general nutrition knowledge questionnaire (GNKQ) and FFQ. The GNKQ assessed knowledge of dietary guidelines (Section A), sources of nutrients (Section B), choosing everyday foods (Section C) and diet–disease relationships (Section D). The Australian Recommended Food Score (ARFS) was used to assess diet quality from FFQ data. Statistical analyses included the χ2 test, Spearman’s correlation test, t test, median test, ANCOVA and ordinal logistic regression. The mean total GNKQ score was 52·7 %. Participants performed best on Section A (58·5 %) followed by Sections B (57·3 %) and C (57·0 %) and worst on Section D (31·0 %). Overall, officers scored significantly higher than soldiers (58·7 v. 51·9 %, P=0·001). Age was weakly but positively correlated with GNKQ total scores (r 0·307; P<0·0005), with no significant effects seen for level of education (P=0·463) or living arrangement (P=0·167). Overall ARFS was 37·6 (sd 7·7) (50·8 %) with officers scoring significantly higher than soldiers (54·7 v. 50·3 %, P=0·040). No demographic variables influenced total ARFS. The total GNKQ score had a significant, positive but weak relationship with total ARFS (r 0·179; P=0·009). Given the importance of nutrition to personnel health and operational readiness, initiatives to improve nutrition knowledge and diet quality are recommended in this population, especially in soldiers.

scholarly journals The Effects of Experimentally Manipulated Social Status and Food Insecurity on Acute Eating Behavior and Risk for Obesity Among Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Study (P21-058-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Cardel ◽  
Gregory Pavela ◽  
David Janicke ◽  
Akilah Dulin ◽  
Tianyao Huo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Social Status ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Randomized Study ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Dietary Intakes ◽  
Energy Needs ◽  
Daily Energy ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Status Position

Abstract Objectives Subjective and objective social status is associated with weight status, but this relationship differs by sex and the mechanisms remain unclear. Methods This randomized study in Hispanic adolescents investigated the effects of experimentally manipulated social status on ad libitum acute and 24-hour dietary intakes and stress-related outcomes as potential mechanisms through which social status affects weight. Participants (n = 133; ages 15–21; 60.2% girls; BMI ≥18.5 and ≤40 kg/m2; 23.4% food insecure) consumed a standardized breakfast and then were randomized to a low (LOW) or high social status position (HIGH) in a rigged game of Monopoly™, in which the rules differed substantially by social status position. Following the game, the participants consumed an ad libitum lunchtime meal. Energy intake was assessed by pre- and post- food weighing. Stress-related markers were measured at baseline, before Monopoly™, after Monopoly™, and after lunch, with the exception of cortisol (measured before and after Monopoly™). Results There was a significant interaction between sex and experimentally manipulated social status (P = 0.0087), such that girls randomized to LOW consumed significantly more of their daily energy needs at the ad libitum lunchtime meal relative to those randomized to HIGH (37.5% vs. 34.3%, respectively). Individuals with food insecurity consumed a greater % of their daily energy needs at the lunchtime meal than those with food security, although the result was not quite statistically significant (40.7% vs. 36.3%, respectively; P = 0.08). In LOW, participants report decreased feelings of powerfulness following Monopoly™ (P = 0.0006). There were no significant differences between HIGH and LOW following Monopoly™ regarding perceived stress, cortisol, heart rate, or blood pressure. Social status condition was not related to 24-hour % of daily energy needs consumed. Conclusions Our data suggest a causal link between experimentally manipulated low social status and increased acute energy intakes among Hispanic girls, potentially influenced by decreased feelings of powerfulness, which is independent of stress. Low social status may play a causal role in the development of obesity by promoting excess calorie consumption. Further research is needed to identify the biobehavioral mechanisms contributing to this phenomenon. Funding Sources NIH. Supporting Tables, Images and/or Graphs

scholarly journals Rationale and Methodology of the 2018 Canadian Armed Forces Members and Veterans Mental Health Follow-up Survey (CAFVMHS): A 16-year Follow-up Survey: Raison D’être Et Méthodologie De L’enquête De Suivi Sur La Santé Mentale Des Membres Des Forces Armées Canadiennes Et Des Anciens Combattants, 2018 (ESSMFACM)

2020 ◽  
pp. 070674372097483
Author(s):  
Tracie O. Afifi ◽  
Shay-Lee Bolton ◽  
Natalie Mota ◽  
Ruth Ann Marrie ◽  
Murray B. Stein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Health Survey ◽  
Military Personnel ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces ◽  
Statistics Canada ◽  
Health And Well Being

Objective: Knowledge is limited regarding the longitudinal course and predictors of mental health problems, suicide, and physical health outcomes among military and veterans. Statistics Canada, in collaboration with researchers at the University of Manitoba and an international team, conducted the Canadian Armed Forces Members and Veterans Mental Health Follow-Up Survey (CAFVMHS). Herein, we describe the rationale and methods of this important survey. Method: The CAFVMHS is a longitudinal survey design with 2 time points (2002 and 2018). Regular Force military personnel who participated in the first Canadian Community Health Survey Cycle 1.2—Mental Health and Well-Being, Canadian Forces Supplement (CCHS-CFS) in 2002 ( N = 5,155) were reinterviewed in 2018 ( n = 2,941). The World Mental Health Survey–Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition ( DSM-IV) criteria. Results: The CAFVMHS includes 2,941 respondents (66% veterans; 34% active duty) and includes data on mental disorder diagnoses, physical health conditions, substance use, medication use, general health, mental health services, perceived need for care, social support, moral injury, deployment experiences, stress, physical activity, military-related sexual assault, childhood experiences, and military and sociodemographic information. Conclusions: The CAFVMHS provides a unique opportunity to further understand the health and well-being of military personnel in Canada over time to inform intervention and prevention strategies and improve outcomes. The data are available through the Statistics Canada Research Data Centres across Canada and can be used cross-sectionally or be longitudinally linked to the 2002 CCHS-CFS data.

scholarly journals Behavioral Economics in Military Personnel Research and Policy

2022 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Benjamin Sylvester ◽  
Damian O’Keefe ◽  
Steve Gooch ◽  
Eugenia Kalantzis
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Economics ◽  
Military Personnel ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Behavioral Sciences ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces ◽  
The World ◽  
Key Concepts ◽  
The Military ◽  
Economics Research ◽  
Research And Policy

AbstractBehavioral economics is a burgeoning field of research that is being used to increase the effectiveness of military policies, programs, and operations. This chapter provides an overview of the origins of behavioral economics, key concepts, how behavioral economics research translates into applied behavioral change, and the rise of behavioral economics teams in government around the world. The chapter outlines how behavioral economics is being used within the military, with specific examples from Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel research to illustrate how this field is being applied to military behavioral sciences.

scholarly journals Association of Child Maltreatment and Deployment-related Traumatic Experiences with Mental Disorders in Active Duty Service Members and Veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces: Association de la Maltraitance des Enfants et des Expériences Traumatisantes Liées au Déploiement Avec les Troubles Mentaux Chez les Membres du Service Actif et Les Anciens Combattants des Forces Armées Canadiennes

2021 ◽  
pp. 070674372098708
Author(s):  
Tracie O. Afifi ◽  
Jitender Sareen ◽  
Tamara Taillieu ◽  
Ashley Stewart-Tufescu ◽  
Natalie Mota ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Child Maltreatment ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Panic Disorder ◽  
Military Personnel ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Active Duty ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces

Objective: Mental health among military personnel is an important public health priority. It is known that military personnel experience a high prevalence of child maltreatment and deployment-related traumatic events (DRTEs) and both are related to mental health outcomes. However, few, if any, studies have examined the cumulative and interactive effects of child maltreatment and DRTEs on mental health disorders in a sample of active duty service members and military veterans. Methods: Data were from the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Members and Veterans Mental Health Follow-up Survey collected in 2018 ( N = 2,941, response rate = 68.7%), a 16-year follow-up survey of CAF Regular Force members interviewed in 2002. Five types of child maltreatment and 10 types of DTREs were assessed for impact on mental health. Mental disorders included past 12-month generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social phobia, and major depressive episode (MDE). Past 12-month symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were also examined. Results: The prevalence of any exposure to child maltreatment and DRTEs was 62.5% and 68.6%, respectively. All types of child maltreatment were associated with increased odds of past 12-month PTSD symptoms and mental disorders with the exception of physical abuse and GAD as well as childhood exposure to intimate partner violence and panic disorder. Cumulative effects of having experienced both child maltreatment and DRTEs increased the odds of past 12-month PTSD symptoms, GAD, social phobia, and MDE. No interaction effects were significant. Conclusions: The prevalence of a child maltreatment history is high among active Canadian military and veterans. As well, child maltreatment may increase the likelihood of mental disorders across the life span. This may be especially true for individuals who also experience DRTEs. Understanding these relationships may provide insight into developing effective interventions for military personnel and veteran mental health outcomes.

scholarly journals COVID-19 and the Mental Health of Canadian Armed Forces Veterans: A Cross-Sectional Survey

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alyson L Mahar ◽  
Christina R Rindlisbacher ◽  
Megan Edgelow ◽  
Shailee Siddhpuria ◽  
Julie Hallet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Military Training ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT Background There are no data on the impact of COVID-19 and associated public health measures, including sheltering at home, travel restrictions, and changes in health care provision, on the mental health of older veterans. This information is necessary for government and philanthropic agencies to tailor mental health supports, services, and resources for veterans in the peri- and post-pandemic periods. The objective of this study was to compare mental health symptoms between Canadian Armed Forces (CAFs) veterans and the general Canadian older adult population in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods This was a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study of older adults in the national Canadian COVID-19 Coping Study. Individuals aged 55 years and older were eligible. A convenience sample of older adults was recruited through a web-based survey administered between May 01, 2020 and June 30, 2020. Canadian Armed Force military service history status (yes/no) was ascertained. The eight-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, the five-item Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the three-item Loneliness Scale were used to measure mental health symptoms. Multivariable logistic regression compared the odds of screening positive for depression, anxiety, and loneliness between veterans and non-veterans. Results Of 1,541 respondents who answered the final question (87% survey completeness rate), 210 were veterans. Forty percent of veterans met criteria for at least one of the mental health diagnoses compared to 46% of non-veterans (P = .12). The odds of reporting elevated symptoms of depression, anxiety, and loneliness were similar for veteran and non-veteran respondents after adjusting for confounders. Conclusion Veterans’ report of mental health symptoms was similar to the general population Spring 2020 of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although veterans’ military training may better prepare them to adapt in the face of a pandemic, additional research is needed to understand the longitudinal impacts on physical and mental health.

scholarly journals A Foods and Nutrient Comparison Study of Meals Eaten at Home vs Meals Eaten at Head Start Centers in Washington DC, USA

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (33) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Beverly M. Copeland ◽  
Allan A. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Head Start ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Dietary Intakes ◽  
Nutrient Intakes ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Food Energy ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Head Start Children ◽  
At Home

The purpose of this research was to investigate the food energy and nutrient intake, and adequacy of meals served at Head Start centers versus meals consumed at home among Head Start Children. A cross-sectional descriptive survey research design was utilized. A convenience sample of 195 Head Start child and caregiver pairs was recruited from two Head Start sites within the District of Columbia (DC). Weight and height were measured and used to calculate BMI. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) BMI for age and gender growth charts were used to evaluate BMI levels. Dietary intakes were collected using the 24-hour food recall method, and Head Start center menus were analyzed using Nutritionist Pro Software (Axxya Systems, Redmond, WA). Data analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 19 (IBM SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). Results of the study showed no significant difference in total calorie intakes between the overweight/obese children and normal weight children who consumed meals both at home and at Head Start centers. However, in both overweight/obese and normal weight children who consumed meals totally at home, lower nutrient intakes were noted when compared to recommended levels. It was concluded that Head Start children who consumed meals both at school and home on the day of the recall, had higher intakes of food energy and were more likely to meet recommended nutrient intakes than Head Start children who did not consume any portion of their meals at school.

scholarly journals Energy Balance of Canadian Armed Forces Personnel during an Arctic-Like Field Training Exercise

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1638 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mavra Ahmed ◽  
Iva Mandic ◽  
Elliot Desilets ◽  
Ingrid Smith ◽  
Wendy Sullivan-Kwantes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Body Weight Loss ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Energy Deficit ◽  
Doubly Labelled Water ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Cold Temperatures ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces ◽  
Extreme Cold

Operating in temperature extremes frequently leads to a discrepancy in energy balance. Investigating the effects of operating in extreme cold temperatures on metabolic requirements has not been well described in Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel. The objective was to accurately assess energy deficits using the “gold standard” methodology for measuring energy intake (EI) and energy expenditure (EE). Nutritional intake of a convenience sample of 10 CAF Class A Reservists, completing a basic military qualification (land) course under winter weather conditions, was assessed using the daily measured food intake/food waste collections. EE was measured by the doubly-labelled water method. Average EI was 2377 ± 1144 kcal/day, which was below the EE (4917 ± 693 kcal/day), despite having ~5685 kcal available in the field rations. A significant body weight loss of 2.7% was associated with the average daily energy deficit of 2539 ± 1396 kcal. As a result, participants demonstrated voluntary anorexia. Such results may have important implications for the impairment of performance and health under longer duration operations.

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