Evaluation of the Success of Weight Loss Programs Using the Fit for Performance Curriculum

ABSTRACT Introduction Overweight and obesity rates continue to rise among U.S. Army soldiers, which impacts their overall readiness status and puts them at greater risk for musculoskeletal injury and development of chronic disease. To address the concern with obesity and ensure that Soldiers are mee...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Military medicine 2023-01, Vol.188 (1-2), p.e248-e253
Main Authors: Wonn, Jessica, Khan, Joetta
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Armed forces
Body mass index
Curricula
Curriculum
Female
Humans
Male
Military personnel
Obesity
Obesity - epidemiology
Obesity - therapy
Retrospective Studies
Success
Weight control
Weight Loss
Weight Reduction Programs
Young Adult
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Summary:ABSTRACT Introduction Overweight and obesity rates continue to rise among U.S. Army soldiers, which impacts their overall readiness status and puts them at greater risk for musculoskeletal injury and development of chronic disease. To address the concern with obesity and ensure that Soldiers are meeting body composition standards, the Army offers Fit for Performance-Weight Loss Strategies curriculum, a program of standardized material on nutrition and physical activity presented over six 1-hour sessions. This study aimed to evaluate the success and attrition of weight loss programs using the Fit for Performance curriculum in an Army setting among TRICARE regions. Materials and Methods This retrospective cohort study consolidated data on participants in weight loss programs using the Fit for Performance curriculum. It examines attrition rates, weight loss, change in body mass index (BMI), factors influencing weight loss, and attrition based on geographical location. Statistical analysis was completed using R Core Team software, version 3.6.1, for t-tests, linear regression, and analysis of variance. Significance was set at P ≤ .05. This study was determined to be exempt by the Walter Reed National Military Hospital Institutional Review Board. Results In total, 8,336 U.S. Army soldiers (80% male, mean age = 26.2 ± 6.9 years) participated in the program. Attrition rates were high (96.4%). Those who attended 4-6 sessions lost significantly more weight than those who attended 1-3 sessions (0.72 kg [1.60 lbs], P 
ISSN:0026-4075
1930-613X
DOI:10.1093/milmed/usab287