Nutritional assessment of servicemen in relation to area of duty and feeding habits: a Pakistani prospective / Avaliação nutricional de militares em relação à área de dever e hábitos alimentares: uma perspectiva paquistanesa

The present study was carried out to determine incidence of overweight and obesity in Pakistani servicemen with reference to their area of duty, feeding habits and also to identify risk factors. Accordingly, 2,501 servicemen selected from all over Pakistan using multiple stage stratified sampling protocol. Nutrition assessment performed using body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR) and dietary assessment using food frequency questionnaire. Collected data was analyzed using the SPSS version 25. Regression was used to find risk factors of obesity and WHR. Results indicated that about 1/4th of servicemen were smokers. Approximately, 1/5th of them were overweight and about one quarter were eating fruits and vegetables for <3 days/ week and <4 days/week, respectively. Only 1/3rd of them were physically active for at least <40 minutes per day. Age and fruits intake were significantly predicting BMI with a direct relation and vegetable intake was negatively correlated to BMI of the servicemen. Age and rank were significant predictors of WHR while, physical activity was negatively correlated to WHR. It is concluded and suggested from our study that there is a need to modify eating patterns and habits as well as improving physical activity on daily basis for healthy and long life of the servicemen.

O presente estudo foi realizado para determinar a incidência de sobrepeso e obesidade em militares paquistaneses com referência à sua área de serviço, hábitos alimentares e também para identificar fatores de risco. Assim, 2.501 militares selecionados de todo o Paquistão usando protocolo de amostragem estratificada de múltiplos estágios. Avaliação nutricional realizada por meio do índice de massa corporal (IMC), relação cintura-quadril (RCQ) e avaliação alimentar por meio de questionário de frequência alimentar. Os dados coletados foram analisados por meio do SPSS versão 25. A regressão foi usada para encontrar fatores de risco para obesidade e RCQ. Os resultados indicaram que cerca de 1/4 dos militares eram fumantes. Aproximadamente, 1/5 deles estava com sobrepeso e cerca de um quarto comia frutas e vegetais por <3 dias / semana e <4 dias / semana, respectivamente. Apenas 1/3 deles era fisicamente ativo por pelo menos <40 minutos por dia. Idade e ingestão de frutas foram preditores significativos do IMC com uma relação direta e ingestão de vegetais foi negativamente correlacionada com o IMC dos militares. Idade e posição foram preditores significativos de RCQ, enquanto a atividade física foi negativamente correlacionada com RCQ. Conclui-se e sugere-se a partir de nosso estudo que há necessidade de modificar os padrões e hábitos alimentares, bem como melhorar a atividade física no dia a dia para uma vida longa e saudável dos militares.

Nutritional assessment of servicemen in relation to area of duty and feeding habits: a Pakistani prospective

Abstract The present study was carried out to determine incidence of overweight and obesity in Pakistani servicemen with reference to their area of duty, feeding habits and also to identify risk factors. Accordingly, 2,501 servicemen selected from all over Pakistan using multiple stage stratified sampling protocol. Nutrition assessment performed using body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR) and dietary assessment using food frequency questionnaire. Collected data was analyzed using the SPSS version 25. Regression was used to find risk factors of obesity and WHR. Results indicated that about 1/4th of servicemen were smokers. Approximately, 1/5th of them were overweight and about one quarter were eating fruits and vegetables for 3 days/ week and 4 days/week, respectively. Only 1/3rd of them were physically active for at least 40 minutes per day. Age and fruits intake were significantly predicting BMI with a direct relation and vegetable intake was negatively correlated to BMI of the servicemen. Age and rank were significant predictors of WHR while, physical activity was negatively correlated to WHR. It is concluded and suggested from our study that there is a need to modify eating patterns and habits as well as improving physical activity on daily basis for healthy and long life of the servicemen.

Resumo

Effects of comprehensive psychological intervention on psychological and biochemical indexes of servicemen in three degree combat readiness / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective To investigate the effects of comprehensive psychological intervention on psychological and biochemical indexes of servicemen in three degree combat readiness. Methods 189 servicemen in three degree combat readiness were randomly divided into the study group and the control group by squad. Beyond the same exercise and education as the control group, the study group received the comprehensive psychological intervention in the course. They were all assessed with Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) ,self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) ,and simplified coping style questionnaire (SCSQ) at the day entering three degree combat readiness (prereadiness) and the next day after the mission (post-readiness). The serum concentrations of superoxide dismutase ( SOD), malondialdehyde ( MDA), cortisol ( COR), and aldosterone (ALD) were determined to evaluate biochemical indexes at the same time. Results Compared with the control group after the combat readiness, the total scores of SDS( (42.1 ± 9.3 ) vs (49.2 ± 10.3 ) ) and SAS( (43.8 ± 7.2) vs (50.6 ± 10.2), P＜ 0. 01 ) were lower, the score of the positive coping style ( ( 21.2 ± 6.4) vs ( 18.2 ± 5.4), P ＜ 0. 05 ) was higher in the study group.Meanwhile,the levels of MDA( (2.6 ±0.51 ) μmol/L) ,COR( (252.5 ±52.4) ng/ml) ,and ALD ( (97.5 ±24.4) pg/ml) were lower ( P ＜ 0. 01 ), the activity of SOD ( ( 1551 ± 354 ) U/gHb) was higher ( P ＜ 0. 01 ) after the combat readiness. In the control group post-readiness, the total scores of SDS (49.2 ± 10.3) and SAS (50.6± 10.2) ,the levels of MDA ( (2.9 ±0.35 ) μmol/L) ,COR( (333.8 ±62.6) ng/ml) ,and ALD( ( 123.8 ±29.6)pg/ml ) increased significantly (P＜0.01), the score of the positive coping style ( 18.2 ± 5.4) and the activity of SOD ( 1302 ± 352 ) U/gHb decreased significantly ( P ＜ 0. 01 ). The total scores of SDS, SAS were negatively related to the level of SOD ( r= -0. 142, -0. 119, P＜0. 0lor 0.05) ,and positively related to COR ( r=0. 156,0. 159, P＜0. 01 ) and ALD ( r=0.151,0.156, P＜0. 01 ). The score of positive coping style was positively related to the level of SOD ( r=0. 141, P＜0. 01 ) ,and negatively related to COR and ALD ( r= -0. 152, -0. 155, P＜ 0. 01 ). Conclusion Comprehensive psychological intervention could effectively improve the psychological and biochemical indexes,reduce the stress level of servicemen in three degree combat readiness.

The Reliability, Validity and National Norm of Social Support Scale in Servicemen / 中国心理卫生杂志

Objective: To test the reliability and validity of social support rate scale (SSRS) of servicemen in servicemen, and make a national norm. The developmental characteristics of servicemen were analyzed in gender, service years and military title. Methods: SSRS was employed to evaluate 13450 servicemen in 30 provinces or cities of China. Results: ① Items analysis; the correlation between each item score and the total score were in 0. 39-0.66 (P

Self - consistency and Congruence of Servicemen / 中国心理卫生杂志

hObjective: To explore the character and its relevant factors of self- consistency and congruence of servicemen. Methods: 12221 servicemen were assessed by Self-consistency and Congruence Survey (SCCS), SCL -90, CSQ and common data forms. Results: ①The self - consistency and congruence level of servicemen was low (the mean of the total scores were 90. 0 ? 14. 8) .②There were significant different self - consistency among the different positions. The total scores of SCCS of officers were 86. 3 ? 14. 6, that of petty officers were 91. 6 ? 13. 8 and that of soldiers were 94. 0 ? 13. 2 ( P