title: Food choices and health during military service: increases in sugar- and fibre-containing foods and changes in anthropometric and clinical risk factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse changes in food choices, diet-related risk factors and their association during 6 months of military service.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal cohort study in Finland, where all men are liable to military service and a clear majority of each age group completes service. Dietary intake data were collected by self-administered questionnaire before and at 6 months of service. Three dietary indices based on food frequencies were developed to characterize the diet: Sugar Index, Fibre Index and Fat Index. Thirteen diet-related risk factors were measured at the beginning and at 6 months of service.
  
  
  METHODS
  Military environment, two geographically distinct garrisons.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male conscripts aged 18-21 years (n 256) performing military service.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During 6 months of service, positive changes concerned more frequent use of fibre-rich foods (P = 0·011), improved body composition (BMI, waist circumference, muscle mass, fat mass and percentage body fat, P ≤ 0·003 for all), decreased systolic blood pressure and increased HDL cholesterol (P < 0·001 for both). Negative changes concerned more frequent use of sugar-rich foods and increased total cholesterol, TAG and blood glucose (P < 0·001 for all). The consumption of fibre-rich foods was inversely associated with anthropometric risk factors at baseline and with sugar-rich foods at both time points.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite more frequent consumption of sweet foods, military service with a unified, nutritionally planned diet, a controlled environment and high physical load has a positive effect on conscripts' health risk factors. The negative changes in blood lipids and glucose may reflect more varied free-time eating.
authors.affiliation: Department of Lifestyle and Participation, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland. clarissa.bingham@thl.fi
authors.forename: Clarissa M L
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bingham
authors.forename: Marjaana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lahti-Koski
authors.forename: Pilvikki
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Absetz
authors.forename: Pauli
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Puukka
authors.forename: Marja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kinnunen
authors.forename: Harri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pihlajamäki
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sahi
authors.forename: Antti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uutela
authors.forename: Piia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jallinoja
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002755:Choice Behavior; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005387:Finland; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005518:Food Preferences; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D019422:Dietary Sucrose