Abnormal eating behaviors in military women.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of abnormal eating behaviors in women on active duty in the Army. METHODS: A total of 423 female soldiers from the general population on active duty volunteered to participate in this study. They completed the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) questionnaire. Each questionnaire was screened and any woman on active duty practicing abnormal eating behaviors (criteria set up by the authors) underwent an interview. A diagnosis, using DSM IV criteria, of one of the following was determined from the interview: 1) No eating disorder, (2) Anorexia nervosa, 3) Bulimia nervosa, 4) binge eating disorder, 5a) Eating disorder NOS, and 5b) Situational eating disorder. A situational eating disorder was defined as any abnormal eating behaviors consistent with an eating disorder NOS that was practiced intermittently and in response to external pressures associated with significant distress, such as military weigh-ins or army physical fitness testing (APFT). RESULTS: Of the 423 women on active duty who participated, 33.6% (N = 142) met the questionnaire screening criteria for being "at risk" for abnormal eating behaviors and underwent an interview. Of the 142 women interviewed, 33 (8%) women were diagnosed with an eating disorder. The women with eating disorders exercised, felt dissatisfied with their weight, and felt significantly more pressure about their weight than the women without eating disorders. In addition, they also had significantly greater scores on the Drive for Thinness (DT), Bulemia (B), and Body Dissatisfaction (BD) subscales, and the total EDI scores for both the 8 and 11 subscales. CONCLUSION: In the women on active duty in the Army studied, there was an 8% prevalence of eating disorders.     

Smoking impairs the response to a physical training regime: a study of officer cadets.

One hundred and sixty five officer cadets completed a 6 month physical training programme; 47 (28%) were smokers and 118 (72%) were not. Improvements in fitness were measured by the Army Personal Fitness Assessment (APFA) which scores for both strength and endurance. Initially both groups had similar APFA scores [mean (SEM)]: smokers 114 (3.1), non smokers 120 (2.3), difference not significant. Six months later both groups had improved their scores: smokers 131 (2.7), non smokers 143 (2.3), but the smokers were now significantly less fit (p < 0.01). The British Army needs a more effective anti smoking policy as 50% of young soldiers continue to smoke, and have an increased risk of premature ischaemic heart disease when compared with their civilian counterparts. Physical fitness remains important in the Army and evidence such as this may help persuade soldiers to give up smoking before standard tests of cardiovascular or lung function show any abnormalities, with benefits for the future health of the Army.     

Physiological effects of a military training program on male and female cadets.

Tested at the beginning and the end of the 6-week training program which all incoming cadets (plebes) undergo upon entering the U.S. Military Academy were 29 males and 26 females (17-21 years old). The aerobic training consisted of running for 30 min 5-6 d/week at varied speeds depending upon performance in an initial 1.5-mile run test. Females responded to training with a significant increase (p is less than 0.001) in VO2 max from 46.0 +/- 1.0 to 49.7 +/- 0.8 ml/kg.min (7.9%). Males did not increase their initial VO2 max (59.4 +/- 1.1 ml/kg.min) significantly. Both groups significantly reduced HRmax and percent body fat. Their initial VO2 max values and activity history accounted for the lack of a significant increase in this highly-fit population of males. Blood lactates were significantly decreased (p is less than 0.05) at the same two submaximal workloads after training. The initial difference in aerobic power between males and females was reduced from 22% to 18%.     

Fitness, performance, and risk of injury in British Army officer cadets.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effectiveness of the Commissioning Course (CC) to develop and maintain standards of fitness, to assess capability to perform military tasks, and to determine the relationship between fitness and risk of injury in 106 British Army officer cadets (OCdts). Aerobic fitness, muscular strength, endurance, and body composition were regularly assessed. Performance on four representative military tasks was measured at the end of the CC. All injuries in term 1 were documented. Over the CC, changes in fitness were generally modest and equivocal. Aerobic fitness improved by approximately 10% (p < 0.01), strength by 5 to 9% (p < 0.05 to p < 0.01), and muscular endurance by 55% (p < 0.01). Reductions in fat (p < 0.01) and gains in fat free mass (p < 0.05) averaged 3%. The females demonstrated greater improvements than the males. The majority of OCdts passed the representative military tasks, although females in some trades showed high failure rates. Forty-six percent of OCdts sustained injuries in the first term, resulting in 5% of man-days lost. No gender difference was found in injury rates. The least aerobically fit OCdts sustained more injuries than their fitter counterparts. In conclusion, there is scope for optimizing the effectiveness of the CC to enhance fitness and improve the focus of physical training on maximizing military task performance.     

军校学员半月板训练伤101例临床分析

目的探讨军校学员军事训练致膝关节半月板损伤的原因、诊治与预防措施。方法对近年来我院住院治疗的101例膝关节半月板训练伤患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果随诊6个月～2年,参照Ikeuchi膝关节等级评定标准,非手术组:优48例,良20例,可10例,差13例;手术组:优5例,良4例,可1例。结论军校学员是一个特殊的群体,半月板训练伤应注重预防,对半月板损伤的学员患者,治疗方法应以非手术治疗为主,手术应慎重。     

飞行训练对飞行学员下丘脑-垂体-性腺轴功能的影响

目的 探讨飞行训练对飞行学员下丘脑－垂体－性腺轴功能的影响。方法 采用放射免疫法检测飞行基础学校毕业学员（１４０名）和飞行学院完成初教机（８２名）、高教机（２９名）训练阶段的学员的血清雌二醇、睾酮、催乳素、卵泡刺激素和黄体生成素５项指标。选择２０名场站地面战士作为对照组。结果 ①各学员组雌二醇、睾酮、催乳素、黄体生成素、卵泡刺激素和雌二醇／睾酮比值较对照组有不同程度改变;②其中尤以雌二醇、睾酮和雌二醇／睾酮比值改变明显;③各学员组自身比较结果显示,随着飞行时间的延长和训练强度的增大,飞行学员性激素水平的变化较大。结论 飞行训练对飞行学员下丘脑－垂体－性腺轴性激素分泌水平有一定影响,飞行因素引起的性激素失衡可能与飞行人员常见病的发生相关。     

Dissociation, hardiness, and performance in military cadets participating in survival training

The present study examined the relationship between peritraumatic dissociation, hardiness, and military performance in Norwegian Navy officer cadets (N = 80) after a simulated prisoner of war (POW) exercise. The cadets reported symptoms of peritraumatic amnesia, depersonalization, and derealization in response to a mild stress experience (time point 1) and exhibited a significant increase in such symptoms when subsequently exposed to a highly stressful experience of being placed in a mock POW camp (time point 2). Symptoms of peritraumatic dissociation were significantly and negatively related to performance, and predicted between 16 and 26% of the variance between subjects. A subscale of the personality hardiness measure (i.e., the subdimension of challenge) was negatively associated with peritraumatic dissociation in response to both the mild stress situation and the more stressful POW exercise in study subjects. Hardiness was not significantly associated with military performance scores. The present data indicate that individual differences in attribution style and in a propensity to dissociate significantly affect military performance during exposure to high stress situations.     

某特种作战团2011年度训练伤调查

目的 探讨特种作战部队训练损伤的发生率、损伤相关影响因素、好发部位,为其有效防治提供依据.方法 2011年5月采用抽签法随机选取某特种作战团464名官兵,对训练损伤及相关情况进行问卷调查,并核对2010年5月-2011年5月该部队各级医疗记录及体系医院住院资料,采用SPSS 19.0软件对结果进行统计分析.结果 464名接受问卷调查的官兵中,165人一年内从未发生过训练伤,占35.6％,299人一年内发生过训练伤,占64.4％,共计发生训练伤505人次,发生率为109次/100人年.发生训练伤的主要危险因素包括年龄大、爱好数量多、入伍前劳动强度大、入伍前体育锻炼频率高、训练负担致睡眠及饮食不良、SCL-90躯体得分高,主要保护因素包括职务高、训练强度低、文化程度高、入伍前劳动频率高、SCL-90恐怖得分高、SCL-90忧郁得分高、SCL-90精神得分高、训练合理性评价高.下肢和腰背部是训练伤的主要发生部位,占73.0％.膝以下损伤最多(49.0％),其中足部占6.5％、踝关节占13.6％、小腿占7.3％、膝关节占21.6％;其次是腰背部,占20.7％.结论 军事训练伤的危险因素涉及多个方面,持续高强度、高难度训练是发生训练伤的主要原因,下肢和腰部是损伤的主要部位.心理因素与训练伤的发生密切相关.合理设置训练内容及强度、提高参训人员的身心素质对训练伤的预防具有重要意义.     

Body mass index and disordered eating behaviors are associated with weight dissatisfaction in adolescent and young adult female military recruits

OBJECTIVE: To examine factors associated with weight dissatisfaction, a risk factor for eating disorders, among female Marine recruits. METHODS: A diverse adolescent/young adult sample of 2157 female recruits completed a questionnaire upon entering Marine Corps training. Weight dissatisfaction was the main variable of interest. RESULTS: Body mass index (BMI), disordered eating history, and worry about meeting military "weight" were related highly to weight dissatisfaction. Women with BMIs near the upper limit of the Marine Corps weight standard (23.5 kg/m2) reported the highest rates of weight dissatisfaction. Those who reported vomiting, binging or pill use, or being worried about "making weight" were four and five times, respectively, more likely to report weight dissatisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: New female Marine recruits with higher BMIs, disordered eating histories, and worries about "making weight" are significantly more likely to be weight dissatisfied. Such findings may identify those at risk for developing eating disorders when exposed to strict military weight standards.     

Urinary incontinence and disordered eating in female elite athletes

Objectives

To evaluate the association between urinary incontinence and disordered eating, in elite female athletes.

Issues in training the female player

On the surface, the women's game appears to be similar to the men's game. On closer examination, there are subtle differences in the nature of how each gender plays the game, which are evident in the disparity between skills, tactics and fitness. The technical weaknesses of women include the first touch, dribbling, long passing and goal keeping. These skill limitations have dictated specific tactical approaches towards both attack and defence. Specific biological limitations inherent in the female player affect the pace and total work output in the women's game. Although it is unrealistic to expect the women's game to approach the work output of the men's game, specific training of skills and fitness will influence the tactical approach to the game.