title: Secular trends in BMI changes among the military population between 2000 and 2010 in Poland - a retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to investigate secular trends in body mass index among the young military population. This involved a comparison of changes in the body mass index (BMI) and height among 19-year-old males from 11 successive birth cohorts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples of a total of 37,934 conscripts between 2000 and 2010 were examined using the BMI defined as weight (kg)/ height (m2).
  
  
  METHODS
  The analysis included each medical record for all recruits reporting for examination between 2000 and 2010 to the Military Headquarters in south-east of Poland. Underweight, overweight and obesity were estimated according to World Health Organization criteria. Means of the BMI, body mass and height were calculated for the following three subgroups: (1) rural resident; (2) urban resident (towns with population of 10,000+); and, (3) urban resident (cities with populations of 100,000+).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Secular trends in body mass index have changed significantly between 2000 and 2010. A statistically significant increase in both the prevalence of overweight (10.5% to 15.6%) and obesity (2.5% to 3.8%) were observed. However, the prevalence of underweight also increased from 8.3% to 10.2%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Secular trends in BMI have been unfavourable for the military population over the last 10 years studied and, therefore, the need for promotion of health among recruits is very important.
authors: Institute of Public Health, Medical Department, University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland Voivodeship Military Staff, Rzeszów, Poland.
authors: Monika
authors: M
authors: Binkowska-Bury
authors: Voivodeship Military Staff, Rzeszów, Poland.
authors: Marcin
authors: M
authors: Żal
authors: Institute of Public Health, Medical Department, University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland Voivodeship Military Staff, Rzeszów, Poland.
authors: Maja
authors: M
authors: Wolan
authors: Department of Quantitative Methods in Economics, Faculty of Management, Rzeszów University of Technology, Rzeszów, Poland.
authors: Marek
authors: M
authors: Sobolewski
authors: Institute of Public Health, Medical Department, University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland Voivodeship Military Staff, Rzeszów, Poland.
authors: Paweł
authors: P
authors: Januszewicz
authors: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Isotope Therapy, Medical University, Wrocław, Poland.
authors: Marek
authors: M
authors: Bolanowski
authors: Institute of Dietetics, Medical Department, University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland. drmazur@poczta.onet.pl.
authors: Artur
authors: A
authors: Mazur
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult