Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption and Implications for Aviation Preflight Indoctrination Students

Area of Science:

• Military Health
• Preventive Medicine
• Metabolic Health

Background:

• Excessive sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is linked to overweight/obesity and Metabolic Syndrome (MetS).
• Metabolic Syndrome affects 21% of the global military population, varying by service branch and specialty.
• Military personnel, including aviators, are susceptible to these health issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• Identify aviation personnel at risk of developing Metabolic Syndrome.
• Propose strategies to mitigate MetS risk and maintain operational readiness.
• Address the potential impact of MetS on pilot training duration and retention.

Main Methods:

• Anonymous 44-item survey administered to 302 students in Aviation Preflight Indoctrination.
• Data collected at Naval Air Station Base, Pensacola, FL.
• Focus on SSB consumption patterns and risk criteria for MetS.

Main Results:

• 70.86% of aviation students reported consuming SSBs.
• 95.3% of consumers preferred caffeinated over decaffeinated SSBs.
• 11.7% of personnel met the 'at risk' criteria (≥4 SSBs/week).

Conclusions:

• Approximately 11.7% of aviation students are at risk for developing Metabolic Syndrome.
• Frequent SSB consumption poses a significant readiness issue for the military.
• Early identification and intervention are crucial for maintaining operational readiness in aviation personnel.