title: Prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of obesity in the British Army.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The trend of escalating obesity has prompted some armed forces to employ comprehensive health surveys to report obesity trends and prevalence, the findings of which suggest that obesity is a growing concern in these specific populations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To provide an appraisal of obesity prevalence and risk to obesity-related diseases in the British Army in relation to age, gender, military rank and employment.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational cohort study (n = 50 635) consisting of 47 173 men and 3462 women was drawn from a study sample hosted on the Fitness Information Software System (FISS) (n = 54 854). Multiple logistic regression techniques were employed separately for men and women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to BMI, 56.7% of the study population were overweight and of those individuals 12% were obese. Whilst a higher percentage of males were obese (12.2% and 8.6%, respectively), when waist circumference data were added to the BMI data, the results indicate that females displayed a higher percentage of risk to obesity-related diseases than males (30.4% and 24%, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Armed service personnel should be made aware of the implications of obesity in regards to health and occupation. Specific focus should be given to those older individuals employed in managerial positions undertaking low levels of occupational physical activity.
authors: School of Sport, Exercise and Health Science, Loughborough University , Leicestershire LE11 3TU , UK.
authors: Paul W
authors: PW
authors: Sanderson
authors: Stacy A
authors: SA
authors: Clemes
authors: Stuart J H
authors: SJ
authors: Biddle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult