Medical Branch, HQ Army Recruiting and Initial Training Command, Ministry of Defence, Army Recruit Health and Performance Research, Upavon, UK
Medical Branch, HQ Army Recruiting and Initial Training Command, Ministry of Defence, Army Recruit Health and Performance Research, Upavon, UK.
BMJ Mil Health. 2024 Jan 25;170(1):15-19. doi: 10.1136/bmjmilitary-2021-002036.
Appropriate nutritional intake is essential to optimise both general health and performance in military recruits. General nutritional knowledge is a significant and modifiable determinant of dietary behaviour; however, the level of nutritional knowledge in British Army recruits undertaking basic training is poorly understood.
The Nutritional Knowledge Questionnaire for Athletes was completed by 29 male (age: 22.3±3.8 years) and 26 female (age: 22.0±3.0 years) standard-entry recruits at the end of basic training, and 15 male (age: 20.7±3.2 years) infantry recruits both at the start and end of basic training for the British Army. Between-group and within-group differences in total and subcomponent (ie, carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals, general nutrition, fluid intake, and sporting performance) scores were analysed.
Standard-entry male recruits had more correct answers (52%) than standard-entry female recruits (38%) and male infantry recruits (40%) at the end of training. Infantry recruits had similar levels of nutritional knowledge at the start (39% correct) and end (40% correct) of training. Nutritional knowledge related to protein (range: 53%-75% correct answers) and vitamins and minerals (range: 42%-63% correct answers) were the two highest scoring subcomponents within each group.
British Army recruits, in particular standard-entry female and infantry recruits, have poor nutritional knowledge, which did not improve throughout basic training. Better nutritional intervention, especially surrounding carbohydrate and fluid education, is required during British Army basic training to optimise career-long dietary behaviour.
适当的营养摄入对于优化新兵的整体健康和表现至关重要。一般营养知识是饮食行为的重要且可改变的决定因素；然而，英国陆军新兵在接受基础训练时的营养知识水平却知之甚少。
在基础训练结束时，29 名男性（年龄：22.3±3.8 岁）和 26 名女性（年龄：22.0±3.0 岁）标准入伍新兵以及 15 名男性（年龄：20.7±3.2 岁）步兵新兵完成了运动员营养知识问卷，该问卷用于评估他们的营养知识水平。对新兵的总分和各分项（即碳水化合物、蛋白质、脂肪、维生素和矿物质、一般营养、液体摄入和运动表现）得分进行组间和组内差异分析。
在训练结束时，标准入伍的男性新兵比女性新兵（38%）和步兵新兵（40%）的正确答案更多（52%）。步兵新兵在训练开始时（39%正确）和结束时（40%正确）的营养知识水平相似。与蛋白质（正确答案范围：53%-75%）和维生素和矿物质（正确答案范围：42%-63%）相关的营养知识是每个群体中得分最高的两个分项。
英国陆军新兵，尤其是标准入伍的女性新兵和步兵新兵，营养知识水平较差，且在基础训练期间并未得到改善。在英国陆军基础训练期间，需要更好的营养干预措施，特别是围绕碳水化合物和液体教育，以优化新兵的长期饮食行为。
