BACKGROUND: The U.S. population has shown increasing rates of overweight and obesity in recent years, but similar analyses do not exist for U.S. military personnel. It is important to understand these patterns in the military because of their impact on fitness and readiness. PURPOSE: To assess prevalence and trends in overweight/obesity among U.S. servicemembers and to examine the associations of sociodemographic characteristics, exercise, depression, and substance use with these patterns. METHODS: Analyses performed in 2013 used five large population-based health-related behavior surveys conducted from 1995 to 2008. Main outcome measures were overweight and obesity among active duty military personnel based on BMI. RESULTS: Combined overweight and obesity (BMI>/=25) increased from 50.6% in 1995 to 60.8% in 2008, primarily driven by the rise in obesity (BMI>/=30) from 5.0% to 12.7%. For overweight, military women showed the largest increase. For obesity, all sociodemographic groups showed significant increases, with the largest among warrant officers, senior enlisted personnel, and people aged 36-45 years. Adjusted multinomial logit analyses found that servicemembers aged 26 years and older, men, non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics, enlisted personnel, married personnel, and heavy drinkers had the highest risk both for overweight and obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Combined overweight and obesity in active duty personnel rose to more than 60% between 1995 and 2008, primarily because of increased obesity. The high prevalence of overweight and obesity needs attention and has implications for DoD efforts to improve the health, fitness, readiness, and quality of life of the Active Forces
Overweight and Obesity Trends Among Active Duty Military Personnel: A 13-Year Perspective
Reyes-Guzman, C., Bray, R., Forman-Hoffman, V., & Williams, J. (2015). Overweight and Obesity Trends Among Active Duty Military Personnel: A 13-Year Perspective. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 48(2), 145-153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2014.08.033
Abstract
Publications Info
To contact an RTI author, request a report, or for additional information about publications by our experts, send us your request.
Meet the Experts
View All ExpertsRecent Publications
Article
The daily association between affect and alcohol use: A meta-analysis of individual participant data
Article
Protection of forest ecosystems in the eastern United States from elevated atmospheric deposition of sulfur and nitrogen
Article
The use of patient experience feedback in rehabilitation quality improvement and codesign activities
Article