Results Based on consistent evidence from studies that were rated as moderate or strong , there is good evidence that military weight management interventions are effective in improving body composition for duration s of up to 12 months .
Effective interventions are more likely to be high intensity ( have a greater number of sessions ) , are more often delivered by specialists , and use theoretical base/behavioral change techniques and a st and ardized guideline .
Dietary interventions can potentially reduce total fat and saturated fat intake .
Dietary interventions that target the kitchen staff and /or increase the availability of healthy food are more likely to be effective in the short term .
The results regarding military physical fitness interventions were inconclusive .
Conclusion Despite limitations such as the diversity and heterogeneity of the included interventions , outcome measurements , and follow-up duration , this systematic review found good evidence that weight management interventions are effective , especially in terms of weight loss .
Background Research has been conducted to assess the effectiveness of weight management , dietary and physical activity interventions in military setting s. However , a recent and comprehensive overview is lacking .
The aim of this systematic review is to examine the evidence and describe key components of effective interventions in terms of improving body composition , dietary behaviors , and physical activity among active-duty military personnel .
Effects of an Eight Week Military Training Program on Aerobic Indices and Psychomotor Function
This study assessed the effects of eight weeks of military training on aerobic fitness indices , military skills and neuropsychological function . Thirty five ( n=35 ) male Irish Defence Forces personnel , divided into training ( n=20 ) and control ( n=15 ) subgroups , completed tests of military aptitude ( Kim ’s games , judging distance , fire order , map reading , weapon assembly ) and neuropsychological function ( Symbol digit modalities test ( SDMT ) , Trail making test , Stroop test and grooved pegboard test ) pre- and post-intervention . The repeated measures study design sought to account for any learning effect . Participants also completed a 10 km route march , a two mile run and three by 20 m shuttle run tests at both time points to quantify changes in fitness variables . The training sub-group significantly ( P<0.001 ) improved mean 20 m shuttle-run distance and consequently estimated VO2 max pre- to post-intervention ( 49.8±1.0 vs. 52.4±0.9 mL.kg-1.min-1 ) . Two mile run time was not significantly improved . Mean % HRmax during the 10 km route march was significantly higher in both training ( P<0.001 ) and control ( P<0.01 ) sub-groups post-intervention ( 71±1 and 83±1 % ) compared to pre-intervention ( 65±1 and 77±1 % ) . However , the training sub-group conducted the route march at a significantly faster speed on the second occasion . Military training significantly improved performance in 3/18 neuropsychological test components and 2/12 military skills test components . Training significantly improved ability to estimate both short ( error ; 36±6 vs. 12±1 % ) and intermediate ( error ; 72±12 vs. 11±3 % ) distances post-intervention . The training sub-group significantly ( P<0.01 ) improved SDMT score and mean Trail 1 time pre- to post-intervention ( 58.0±2.8 vs. 69.5±3.4 ; 18.1±0.8 vs. 14.4±0.8s , respectively ) . In Part 3 of the Stroop test , time mediated a significant ( P<0.05 ) and selective improvement in the training sub-group ( 51.3±3.2 vs. 63.8±5.4 ) . In conclusion , aerobic fitness and a minority of neuropsychological and military skills tests improved following 8 weeks of military training
Results Based on consistent evidence from studies that were rated as moderate or strong , there is good evidence that military weight management interventions are effective in improving body composition for duration s of up to 12 months .
Effective interventions are more likely to be high intensity ( have a greater number of sessions ) , are more often delivered by specialists , and use theoretical base/behavioral change techniques and a st and ardized guideline .
Dietary interventions can potentially reduce total fat and saturated fat intake .
Dietary interventions that target the kitchen staff and /or increase the availability of healthy food are more likely to be effective in the short term .
The results regarding military physical fitness interventions were inconclusive .
Conclusion Despite limitations such as the diversity and heterogeneity of the included interventions , outcome measurements , and follow-up duration , this systematic review found good evidence that weight management interventions are effective , especially in terms of weight loss .
Background Research has been conducted to assess the effectiveness of weight management , dietary and physical activity interventions in military setting s. However , a recent and comprehensive overview is lacking .
The aim of this systematic review is to examine the evidence and describe key components of effective interventions in terms of improving body composition , dietary behaviors , and physical activity among active-duty military personnel .