Document Detail


Body mass index, medical qualification status, and discharge during the first year of US Army service.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21248187     Owner:  NLM     Status:  Publisher    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: The high prevalence of overweight and obesity in military recruits and in the US population as a whole necessitates understanding the health effects of body composition and associated morbidity. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we examined the effect of body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)) and medical status on premature discharge from the US Army in a large cohort of first-time-enlisted, active-duty soldiers. DESIGN: We determined the odds ratios (ORs) associated with BMI and medical status at enlistment by using a retrospective cohort of first-time, active-duty army recruits. RESULTS: ORs for BMI, calculated by using 24-24.9 as a reference, exhibited a U-shaped pattern. Soldiers with a BMI >34 had the highest ORs for all-cause (OR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.32, 1.64) and medical (OR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.46, 1.93) discharges. A BMI <17 was 1.35 times more likely (95% CI: 1.02, 1.80) to result in an all-cause discharge and 1.45 times more likely (95% CI: 1.01, 2.08) to result in a medical discharge. ORs for soldiers who required a medical reexamination did not vary when all-cause discharge (OR: 1.10; 95% CI: 1.06, 1.14) and medical discharge (OR: 1.10; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.15) were compared. The medical discharge OR for soldiers who required a medical waiver to enter the army (OR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.48, 1.64) was higher than the OR for all-cause discharge (OR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.22, 1.32). CONCLUSION: Enlistment BMI and medical qualification status play an important role in early discharge and may provide a valuable tool in the development of fitness, nutrition, and injury-prevention interventions in higher-risk groups.
Authors:
Elizabeth R Packnett; David W Niebuhr; Sheryl A Bedno; David N Cowan
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Publication Detail:
Type:  JOURNAL ARTICLE     Date:  2011-1-19
Journal Detail:
Title:  The American journal of clinical nutrition     Volume:  -     ISSN:  1938-3207     ISO Abbreviation:  -     Publication Date:  2011 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-1-20     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0376027     Medline TA:  Am J Clin Nutr     Country:  -    
Other Details:
Languages:  ENG     Pagination:  -     Citation Subset:  -    
Affiliation:
Division of Preventive Medicine, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD.
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