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Session: Energy and Macronutrient Metabolism (Poster Theater Flash Session 1)

(PTFS01-06-24) Eating Behaviors Are Associated With Energy Intake and Changes in Body Weight but Not Strength During a 3-Day Military Training Exercise

Saturday, June 29, 2024

3:20 PM – 3:24 PM CT

Location: W185A-C

Presenting Author(s)

HF

Heather S. Fagnant, MS, MPH, RDN

Research dietitian
U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine
Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

Co-Author(s)

SM

Susan M. McGraw

US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine
JE

Julie Edwards

U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Massachusetts, United States
EG

Erin Gaffney-Stomberg

U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Massachusetts, United States
KO

Kevin S. O'Fallon

U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Massachusetts, United States
AB

Angela C. Boynton

U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Massachusetts, United States
GG

Grace E. Giles

U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center
VB

Victoria G. Bode

U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Massachusetts, United States
SE

Seth Elkin-Frankston

U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Massachusetts, United States
J. Philip Karl, PhD, RD

Nutritional Physiologist
U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine
Roslindale, Massachusetts, United States
TS

Tracey J. Smith

US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, United States

Objectives: Energy deficits are common during military training and may lead to performance decrements if body weight loss exceeds ~3% body weight. This study identified associations between eating behaviors (EB), energy intake (EI), body weight change (ΔBW), and measures of upper and lower body strength among Soldiers participating in a 72-hr field training exercise (72HFS).

Methods: Intake of provided rations was measured using daily logs and trash collection in 140 male Soldiers (23 ± 3 yr) participating in a 72HFS. Questionnaires were administered before, during, and after 72HFS to assess nutrition knowledge, habitual diet quality (DQ; Healthy Eating Index 2015), habitual EB and EB during 72HFS. Strength was measured via a Jamar hand dynamometer (handgrip) and Jackson strength evaluation system (deadlift, biceps curl, and upright row) before and after 72HFS. Associations were determined by linear regression and mixed models.

Results: Mean [95%CI] EI, ΔBW, and change in strength (handgrip, deadlift, biceps curl, upright row) were 24.1 [22.8, 25.3] kcal/kg, -1.2% [-1.4, -0.9], and -3.3 [-5.2, -1.5] kg, 1.1 [-4.8, 6.9] kg, -0.4 [-1.9, 1.2] kg, and 0.5 [-1.5, 2.4] kg, respectively. Mean EI was associated with (β ± SE) habitual DQ (0.2 ± 0.1) and sometimes experiencing hunger (4.6 ± 1.3) and often/always planning what to eat ahead of time (3.1 ± 1.4) during 72HFS (p ≤ 0.03). ΔBW was associated with habitual dietary rigidity (-0.2 ± 0.1), and sometimes experiencing extreme hunger (0.9 ± 0.4), often/always eating after feeling full (1.5 ± 0.6), bite size (0.2 ± 0.1), and often/always relying on satiety cues to stop eating (-1.1 ± 0.4) during 72HFS (p ≤ 0.05). Changes in strength were not associated with EI, ΔBW, or EB.

Conclusions: Findings suggest that Soldiers with more rigid and poorer quality diets who do not experience hunger may be at greater risk for undereating during military training, while planning and behaviors reflecting a conscious attempt to eat more may reduce that risk. Lack of associations between energy intake and body weight with changes in strength may suggest that energy deficits were not large enough to reduce strength in this cohort during the 72hr of training.

Funding Sources: U.S. Army Medical Research & Development Command; US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command

Disclaimer: Authors’ views do not reflect official DoD policy.