title: Changes in food intake and body weight associated with basic combat training.
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.
authors.affiliation: Pennington Biomedical Research Center, 64000 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USA.
authors.forename: Donald A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.forename: Pamela Davis
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: H Raymond
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Marlene M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Most
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Alfonso
authors.forename: Vicky
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Donna H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Ryan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D014481:United States