title: Obesity in the United Kingdom Armed Forces: prevalence based on measured and self-reported data.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence of obesity in the United Kingdom military and general population and the extent to which self-reported data underestimates obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Height and weight data from military personnel (measured data: 2,073 men, 308 women; self-reported data: 6,374 men, 609 women) and from the general population (measured data: 1,121 men, 1,396 women; self-reported data: 1,234 men, 1,543 women).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Obesity (defined as having a body mass index of 30+) was 6.2% in those under 25 years old and 24.5% in those over 35 years old in military males, and the prevalence of obesity was 12% in those under 25 years old and 25% in those over 35 years old in military women. Self-reported body mass index underestimated obesity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obesity is uncommon in those under 25 years old in the United Kingdom military. The prevalence of obesity based on self-reported data underestimates true prevalence.
authors.affiliation: Academic Centre for Defence Mental Health, Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, Weston Education Centre, 10 Cutcombe Road, London, SE5 9RJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nicola T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Fear
authors.forename: Josefin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sundin
authors.forename: Roberto J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Rona
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012650:Self Disclosure; D006113:United Kingdom