Senior Military Officers' Educational Concerns, Motivators and Barriers for Healthful Eating and Regular Exercise

摘要

The increasing trend of military personnel being overweight, the high cost of health care associated with being overweight, and the failure to meet some Healthy People 2000 objectives related to diet point to the need for more appropriate nutrition and fitness education for military personnel. In general, educational interventions are more effective when they are tailored to the needs and preferences of the target population. However, the educational needs of various segments of the military have not been reported in the literature. This article identifies the health concerns, educational preferences for nutrition and fitness, barriers and motivators for eating healthfully and exercising regularly, and self-reported eating habits and fitness levels of 58 senior military officers enrolled in the residence course at the U.S. Army War College. The officers were administered the Nutrition and Fitness Educational Needs Assessment Survey. Results showed that 98 percent of respondents strongly agreed or agreed that fitness was their primary health concern, followed closely by weight (95%). The officers also were concerned with body fat (90%), blood cholesterol (86%), and blood pressure (79%). Eighty percent of respondents wanted more information on eating healthfully on the run, and 78% wanted to learn more about lowering/controlling their blood cholesterol. The primary barrier to eating healthfully and exercising regularly was lack of time, whereas appearance and health were the leading motivators for doing so. Health interventions for this population should include their topics of concern and should address perceived barriers and motivators. The information can aid in the development of targeted educational programs for this population.