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Active-duty U.S. military personnel are not included in nationally representative health surveys. This study compared the prevalence of overweight and obesity among United States (U.S.) military personnel to comparable U.S. civilian data. This study was a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis. The prevalence of overweight [Body Mass Index (BMI) more than or equal to 25 and less than 30], and obesity (more than or equal to 30) among military personnel, using secondary data from 2002 and 2005 Department of Defense Surveys of Health Related Behaviors among Active Duty Military Personnel (2002, N=12,756; 2005, N=16,146), was compared to civilian data from the 2002 and 2005 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). Adjusted prevalence of overweight among military personnel was higher (2002: 46.2% vs. 33.3%, respectively; 2005: 45.8% vs. 31.1%, respectively, P less than 0.01), but obesity was lower compared to the U.S. adults (2002: 7.7% vs. 29.2%, respectively; 2005: 13.3% vs. 33.9%, respectively, P less than or equal to 0.01). Higher prevalence of overweight among military may include some persons having high lean body mass that is not identified through BMI estimations. Nonetheless, adjusted data suggests that overweight in both populations has declined slightly from 2002 to 2005, and that the prevalence of obesity is lower in military personnel. Future research to identify age-specific sub-trends may provide insight into targeted weight management strategies for military personnel and civilians.

Probiotic-containing foods are consumed to enhance gastrointestinal (GI) health and immune function. How storage of probiotic-containing foods affects colonization and persistence of probiotics in the GI tract after the stored foods are consumed is undefined. Similarly, the amount or dose of probiotics that must be consumed to achieve colonization and persistence of probiotics in the GI tract is not known. Volunteers ate fresh pudding with Lactobacillus reuteri DSM17938 (L. reuteri; BioGaia AB, Stockholm, Sweden; 10(8) CFU/serving; room temperature less than 1 week followed by freezer) daily (n = 9) or on alternate days (n = 9) over 7 days; or, stored pudding with L. reuteri (10(9) CFU/serving; 37 deg C for 7 days followed by freezer) daily over 7 days (n = 10). Fecal samples were collected daily during probiotic consumption (D1-7) and after dosing ended (D13-15 and D20-22), and analyzed for the presence of L. reuteri. All volunteers who consumed fresh probiotic-containing pudding, and one volunteer who consumed stored probiotic-containing pudding, had detectable L. reuteri during consumption (D1-7). L. reuteri count significantly rose in response to daily consumption and alternate-day consumption of fresh probiotic-containing pudding, and significantly fell in both groups one week after dosing ended. In contrast, L. reuteri count did not rise in response to stored probiotic-containing pudding. The total number of volunteers with detectable L. reuteri one and two weeks after dosing ended was similar in response to daily feeding and alternate-day feeding of fresh probiotic-containing pudding; however, L. reuteri was not detected after dosing ended in response to stored probiotic-containing pudding. Alternate-day probiotic intake achieves equivalent colonization to daily intake, but colonization declines rapidly once dosing stops. Colonization of L. reuteri is achievable with daily or alternate day intake of fresh, but not stored L. reuteri-containing pudding.

Inadequate energy intake induces changes in endogenous glucose production (GP) to preserve muscle mass. Whether addition provision of dietary protein modulates GP response to energy deficit is unclear. The objective was to determine whether exercise-induced energy deficit effects on glucose metabolism are mitigated by increased dietary protein. Methods:Nineteen men ([mean +/- SD] 23 +/- 2 y, VO(sub2 peak) 59 +/- 5 ml-kg(exp-1)min(exp-1)) were divided into three groups, two consuming moderate (MP; 0.9 g protein-kg(exp-1)-d(exp-1)), and one high (HP; 1.8 g protein-kg(exp-1)-d(exp -1)) protein diets (55% energy from carbohydrate) for 11 days. Following 4 days of energy balance (D1-4), energy expenditure was increased for 7 days (D5-12) in all groups. Energy intake was unchanged in two, creating a 1000 kcal-d(exp-1) deficit (DEF-MP, DEF-HP; n = 6,both groups), whereas energy balance was maintained in the third (BAL-MP, n=7). Biochemical markers of substrate metabolism were measured during fasting rest on D4 and D12,as were GP and contribution of gluconeogenesis to endogenous glucose production (fgng) using 4-h primed, continuous infusions of [6,6-2H2]glucose (dilution-method) and [2-13C]glycerol (MIDA technique). Glycogen breakdown (GB) was derived from GP and f(sub gng). Results: Plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate levels increased, and plasma glucose and insulin declined from D4 to D12,regardless of group. DEF-MP experienced decreased plasma GP from D4 to D12 ([mean change +/- SD] 0.24 +/- 0.24 mg-kg(exp-1)min(exp-1)), due to reduced GB from D4 (1.40 +/- 0.28 mg-kg(exp-1)min(exp-1)) to D12 (1.16 +/- 0.17 mg-kg(exp-1)-min(exp-1)), P < 0.05. Conversely, BAL-MP and DEF-HP sustained GP from D4 to D12 ([mean change +/- SD] 0.1 +/- 0.5 and 0.0 +/- 0.2 mg-kg(exp-1)-min(exp-1), respectively) by maintaining GB. Conclusion: Exercise-induced energy deficit decreased GP and additional dietary protein mitigated that effect., The original document contains color images. Pub. in Nutrition and Metabolism, v8 n27, p1-33, 2011.

Excess weight is associated with negative health outcomes. Meal replacements are effective in promoting favorable body composition changes in civilian populations, however, their efficacy with military service members who have unique lifestyles is unknown. The objective of this randomized controlled trial was to determine the efficacy of the Army's education-based, weight-management program, "Weigh to Stay," with and without meal replacements for improving blood lipids and to promote weight and body fat loss in overweight U.S. Army soldiers. Soldiers (n=113; 76 males/37 females) attending Weigh to Stay at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in 2006-2007 were randomly assigned to Weigh to Stay only or to a commercially available meal replacement program (two meal replacements per day) combined with Weigh to Stay, and followed until Army body fat standards were met, or for 6 months if standards were not met. Study completers (n=46) in both treatment groups lost weight (Weigh to Stay: -2.7 +/- 4.3 kg; meal replacers: -3.8 +/- 3.5 kg) and fat mass (Weigh to Stay, -2.7 +/- 3.2 kg; meal replacers: -2.9 +/- 2.5 kg), and improved high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations (Weigh to Stay: 13 +/- 9 mg/dL [0.34 +/- 0.23 mmol/L]; meal replacers: 8 +/- 7 mg/dL [0.21 +/- 0.18 mmol/L]; P < 0.05); however, no between-group differences were observed. Attrition was lower (P=0.009) and success in meeting body fat standards tended to be higher (P=0.06) for the meal replacers versus Weigh to Stay participants. Intent-to-treat analysis demonstrated that meal replacers lost more weight (1.2 +/- 0.5 kg), percent body fat (1.0% +/- 0.4%), and fat mass (0.8 +/- 0.4 kg) compared to Weigh to Stay volunteers (P < 0.05). The findings suggest that meal replacement can be recommended as a potential adjunct strategy to Weigh to Stay., Published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, p268-273, Feb 2010.

Two experiments were performed to examine how different proteins in a carbohydrate-,protein beverage affect postprandial amino acid (AA), glucose, and insulin responses. In one, volunteers drank 3 beverages in separate trials, each differing in protein type. Ten additional volunteers consumed the same drinks after 60 min of varying-intensity exercise. Blood glucose, insulin, glucose-dependent insulinotrophic polypeptide, and AAs were measured after consumption. Branched-chain AA concentrations peaked at 30 min and did not differ between beverages at rest or postexercise. There were no significant differences between beverages with respect to initial or total area under the curve for any outcome measures at rest or postexercise. High-carbohydrate beverages with various proportions of milk proteins from a supplier to the commercial industry had no impact on AA concentration. Retrospective chemical analysis of commercial proteins showed that casein was partially hydrolyzed; therefore, consumers should carefully consider the manufacturer or other factors when procuring these beverages for their purposed physiological effects.