Koehlmoos Tracey Pérez, Banaag Amanda, Madsen Cathaleen King, Adirim Terry
Tracey Pérez Koehlmoos (
Amanda Banaag is a senior data analyst in the Comparative Effectiveness and Provider Induced Demand Collaboration at the USUHS and the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, in Bethesda, Maryland.
Health Aff (Millwood). 2020 Oct;39(10):1719-1727. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2020.00712.
To build and maintain an effective, agile force that is ready at a moment's notice to deploy for national security missions, the US military must recruit approximately 150,000 new personnel annually while adhering to stringent medical standards. Given a target recruitment population of young adults ages 18-24, the health of the nation's children is critical to US national security. Maintaining a fit population of military dependents is particularly important because this group has a greater propensity to serve than does the broader population of US children. Using TRICARE claims, we examined body mass index and behavioral health diagnoses among adolescents ages 13-18 covered by the Military Health System for fiscal years 2017-18. Prevalence of conduct disorders, which prevent enlistment, was low overall. However, overweight and obesity combined prevalence estimates were more than 30 percent in every census division, and the prevalence of behavioral health disorders ranged from 18.53 percent to 22.90 percent. These prevalence rates are similar to those found in the civilian sector but are high enough to pose barriers to the military's efforts to meet recruitment goals. Interventions to improve nutrition, fitness, and behavioral health among school-age children may improve fitness to serve and guarantee the future readiness of the armed forces and the security of the nation.
为建立并维持一支高效、灵活的部队，使其能在接到通知后即刻部署以执行国家安全任务，美国军方每年必须招募约15万名新兵，同时要遵守严格的医疗标准。鉴于目标招募人群为18至24岁的年轻人，美国儿童的健康对美国国家安全至关重要。保持军人家属的健康尤为重要，因为这一群体比美国儿童总体更倾向于服役。我们利用三军医疗保健计划（TRICARE）的理赔数据，研究了2017 - 18财年军事卫生系统所涵盖的13至18岁青少年的体重指数和行为健康诊断情况。总体而言，妨碍入伍的品行障碍患病率较低。然而，每个普查区超重和肥胖的综合患病率估计均超过30%，行为健康障碍的患病率在18.53%至22.90%之间。这些患病率与民用部门的患病率相似，但高到足以对军方实现招募目标的努力构成障碍。改善学龄儿童营养、体能和行为健康的干预措施可能会提高服役适应性，并保障武装部队未来的战备状态和国家的安全。
