Dietary intake and body composition of military in garrison: A systematic review

Introduction: Despite the importance of military health, there is a notable lack of comprehensive research on its general health status. The nature of military life, with its structured mealtimes and reliance on institutional dining facilities, influences food consumption patterns among active duty members. This paper characterizes the dietary intake and body composition of military personnel in garrison, associating it with healthy lifestyle recommendations. Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement via three electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus) for searches. The study inclusion criteria were established using the Participants, Intervention, Comparator, and Outcome (PICO) framework. Results: A total of 25 studies (cross-sectional, longitudinal, and randomized trial) filled the inclusion criteria and were incorporated in the qualitative synthesis. The setting for data collection was generally through created questionnaires specific for that purpose, and anthropometric data were self-reported or assessed by examiners. Dietary outcomes were markedly different based on the scale used, but most measurement scales revealed moderate results similar to the general population. Discussion: There is a need to modify eating and habits patterns, such as increasing the consumption of fruit, vegetables, and whole grains, as well as improving daily physical activity for achieving a healthy weight and promoting health. More research should be done in order to improve the understanding of specific dietary intake associated with ability to meet high-performing standards in order to promote health and readiness of service members.