Epidemiological Trends, Obesity, and Metabolic Risks Affecting Military Readiness and Training Systems – an International Perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35926/HDR.2025.2.6Kulcsszavak:
military health, obesity, metabolic risk, readiness, training challengesAbsztrakt
Obesity and metabolic risk factors represent a growing challenge to military readiness worldwide, imposing a substantial burden on personnel health, training capacity, and operational capability. This study examines epidemiological data from France, Germany,
Poland, the United Kingdom and global meta-analyses, highlighting prevalence rates of overweight and obesity, as well as cardiovascular and metabolic syndrome risks in military populations. Findings reveal that between 45.7 and 67.7% of servicemembers are overweight or obese, with 21–44% showing moderate to high cardiometabolic risk, often influenced by rank, unit type, and lifestyle factors. These conditions reduce fitness, increase injury and illness rates, and may accelerate attrition. The analysis underlines the urgent need for targeted prevention, structured lifestyle interventions, and integrated health monitoring to
maintain a deployable force and to support training personnel.
Hivatkozások
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