Weight change, lifestyle, and dietary behavior in the US military's Warrior in Transition Units.

OBJECTIVE To identify lifestyle factors that may contribute to weight changes experienced by Warfighters assigned to Warrior in Transition Units (WTU). DESIGN Multicenter, cross-sectional, descriptive study at 4 military installations (Fort Hood, TX; Fort Bliss, TX; Fort Sam Houston, TX; and Fort Gordon, GA). Participants completed a self-reported questionnaire regarding environmental, social, and dietary lifestyle behaviors. Study participants were recruited and data collected from February through July 2009. RESULTS Four hundred twelve wounded Warfighters (97.6% Soldiers) participated; 51% indicated they were overweight and 61% desired weight loss. About 51% exceeded a normal body mass index (18.5 to 27.4 kg/m2) according to Army height and weight standards. Roughly 85% of all participants experienced weight change following their injury. Limited activity was self-reported as the main reason for weight gain (66.2%), and deployment as the main reason for weight loss (21.7%). Lifestyle factors that changed included skipping meals, eating snacks, eating at sit-down restaurants, performing aerobic and anaerobic physical activity. The majority of participants (more than 70%) consume 3 standard meals per day, with 25% reporting that the meal typically skipped was breakfast. CONCLUSION The WTU Soldiers saw themselves as overweight, desired to lose weight, and reported several changes in lifestyle factors upon entry into the WTU. There is a need for more focused nutrition-related and physical fitness-oriented interventions to aid Warrior recovery, promote rehabilitation, and decrease length of time in the WTU.