title: Normal Weight Status in Military Service Members Was Associated With Intuitive Eating Characteristic.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between individual weight status and intuitive eating or motivation for eating characteristics. Participants were predominantly white (57%), Army (91%), enlisted (72%), males (71%), with a mean age of 30 ± 9 years and mean body mass index (BMI) of 27.0 ± 4.2 kg/m(2). The cross-sectional, descriptive study included active duty service members (n = 295) recruited from Texas and Washington. Validated Motivation for Eating Scale (MFES) and Intuitive Eating Scale were administered and BMI (m/kg(2)) was dichotomized at <25 or ≥25 kg/m(2). Descriptive, correlation, t-test, and logistic regression analysis were conducted for BMI category with demographic, lifestyle, and MFES/Intuitive Eating Scale scores (α = 0.05; 80% power). Thirty-six percent were normal BMI (22.7 ± 1.6 kg/m(2)) and 64% were overweight/obese BMI (29.3 ± 3.3 kg/m(2)). Mean BMI was 27.8 ± 4.2 kg/m(2) (males) and 24.8 ± 3.4 kg/m(2) (females) (p < 0.001). Physical MFES type was predominant (77% normal BMI vs. 66% overweight; p = 0.001). Males ate for physical rather than emotional reasons (p = 0.014). Each 1-point increase in Reliance on Internal Hunger Satiety Score was associated with 34% lower odds of being overweight. Disparity existed between sex and intuitive eating characteristic. Increasing awareness of eating influences may improve weight-related dietary behaviors.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, 15 Kansas Street, Natick, MA 01760.
authors.forename: Renee E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.affiliation: U.S. Air Force, 59th Medical Wing, 1701 Kenly Avenue, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, TX 78236.
authors.forename: Heidi L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, Nutrition Care Division, 650 Joel Drive, Fort Campbell, KY 42223.
authors.forename: Jeffery
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heileson
authors.affiliation: Moncrief Army Community Hospital, Nutrition Care Division, 4500 Stuart Street, Fort Jackson, SC 29207.
authors.forename: Jordan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: DeMay
authors.affiliation: Brian Allgood Army Community Hospital, 19 Hangangno-dong, Yongsan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Martha A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D009042:Motivation; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas; D014861:Washington