Evaluation of health behaviours of Polish Army soldiers in relation to demographic factors, body weight and type of Armed Forces.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this article is to assess the health behaviors of Polish Army soldiers participating in the National Health Programme 2016-2020 in relation to types of armed forces, BMI and selected demographic factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Anthropometric and questionnaire data were obtained in a group of 1229 soldiers of the Polish Armed Forces (PAF) from military units from all over Poland. Health behaviors patterns were assessed using the Health Behavior Inventory (HBI), developed by Juczynski. RESULTS: The HBI of PAF soldiers was 79.9±12.68, indicating an aver- age score. Statistically significant differences were found in the HBI values and in the individual categories of health behaviors according to the type of armed forces. The highest scores in each category of health behaviors were obtained by the Air Force (AF) soldiers. The lowest HBI score was obtained by the Land Forces and Territorial Defence Forces soldiers. Soldiers with higher education obtained significantly higher scores in such health categories as proper eating habits, preventive behaviors and health practices, compared to respondents with secondary education. Soldiers residing in cities had statistically significantly higher health behaviors intensities in all categories, compared to village residents. A significantly higher score in all health categories was noted in soldiers with normal body weight compared to those with diagnosed obesity. There was no significant relationship between the age of the respondents and health behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: The study found that factors such as type of armed forces, BMI, place of residence and education level were significant for the adoption of health behaviors by PAF. The level of health practices was significant- ly higher among AF soldiers compared to other types of armed forces. It seems necessary to further disseminate education on pro-health behaviors, especially among soldiers with obesity through participation in organized training and psychodietetic consultations as part of the National Health Programme. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(4):437-49.

Assessment of Risk Factors for Development of Overweight and Obesity among Soldiers of Polish Armed Forces Participating in the National Health Programme 2016-2020.

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Polish Armed Forces soldiers and to analyze risk factors impacting body mass. In total, 1096 male, Caucasian soldiers (36.31 ± 8.03 years) participated in this study. Anthropometric data were obtained, and questionnaires evaluated sociodemographic, environmental, behavioral and biological factors known to be associated with obesity. Only 33% of the total number of participants had normal body weight, and 17.3% were considered obese (according to WHO criteria). The results showed that being 40 years or older, sleeping six hours or less per day, more frequent reaching for food in stressful situations, having a mother with excessive body weight, not exercising or exercising at most two days per week, and spending two hours a day or more in front of the TV increase the risk of obesity. Taken together, the results show that factors such as family history of obesity, dietary habits, physical activity, length of sleep and ability to cope with stress could be used to identify soldiers at higher risk of developing obesity in order to provide them with personalized prevention programs.

Proposition of a New POLA Index to Assess the Immunomodulatory Properties of the Diet and Its Relationship with the Gut Microbiota, Using the Example of the Incidence of COVID-19 in a Group of People without Comorbidities.

A rise in the incidence of infections with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has sparked the search for protective strategies against the new pathogen. It is known that individual food components can interact with different immune cells, modulating the immune response of the body. The aim of this study was to develop an index assessing the immunomodulatory potential of diet (POLA index) and to test its utility for the prediction of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a group of healthy young people following a traditional or vegetarian diet. Data on body composition, anthropometric measurements, physical activity, dietary intake, and gut microbiota were obtained from 95 adults (mean age, 34.66 ± 5.76 years). There was a strong correlation between the dietary inflammatory index and the POLA index (r = 0.90; p < 0.0001). Based on Cohen's kappa statistic, there was a good agreement in qualitative interpretation between the two indices (kappa = 0.61; p < 0.0001). People on a diet with beneficial immunomodulatory effects had a lower risk of COVID-19 of approximately 80%, as compared with those on a diet with highly unbeneficial immunomodulatory effects. In daily practice, the POLA index might serve as a useful tool for dietitians to identify individuals whose diet is deficient in ingredients for optimal immune system function and change their dietary behavior to ensure optimal immune function that reduces the risk of infection.