The Relationships Among Perceived Stress, Food Choice, and Body Mass Index in Air Force Personnel
Abstract
Research has shown that perceived stress and its associated metabolic changes contribute to the development of obesity (Bose, Olivan, and Laferrere, 2009). However, few studies have explored the contributory role of food choice on the relationship between perceived stress and weight status. Active duty personnel (N = 192) stationed at Andrews AFB underwent height and weight assessments and completed an anonymous survey evaluating levels of perceived stress, food choice, and weight status. The majority of participants were enlisted (90.5%), active duty (80.2%), overweight or obese (73%), Caucasian (64.l%) and men (80.6%). Approximately half of the respondents appraised their lives as stressful, reporting an average of 13.16 (SD= 6.56) on the Perceived Stress Scale (clinical cutoff= 13). However, there was no significant association between perceived stress and body mass index (BMI; kg/m2). Though perceived stress and the variety of foods reportedly consumed (e.g., hamburgers, salads) were not associated with BMI, there are important implications for the continued scientific evaluation and prevention of overweight and obesity in military personnel through improving food choice decisions during reported periods of perceived stress in real-time.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 11, 2013
- Accession Number
- AD1012896
Entities
People
- Edny J. Bryant
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences